Breastfeeding in Islamic perspective :the reality of practice

Abstract

Islam recommends breastfeeding since human milk is the most nutritious and best first food for infants. Mother’s preference of infant feeding practice would be influenced by many factors. In Malaysia, breastfeeding was dominantly practiced among Malay whose deeply believe in Islam and any decision should abide by Islamic teachings. Existing literature appear to have limited evidence on Malay mothers’ interpretation and construction of this practice. The decision to breastfeed was believed to be influenced by social and cultural context. Therefore, this study aimed at exploring how religious beliefs and sociocultural would influence the life experience of breastfeeding mothers. This study used qualitative study design with minimal guidance of phenomenological approach as the methodological framework. Malay mothers whose have had on-going and contemporaneous breastfeeding experience were recruited from four Maternal and Child Health Clinic in Kuantan using purposive sampling. Semi structured interviews were carried out with 15 mothers. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis. The findings of this study were categorized into five themes; mothers’ understanding of the health benefits and Islamic recommendation on breastfeeding, factors that influence mothers to breastfeed support and mothers’ experience throughout breastfeeding journey. However; breastfeeding difficulty, lack of support system, customary belief and practice were recognized as barriers following breastfeeding journey. The findings of this study suggested that breastfeeding practice was deeply embedded within religious belief and sociocultural context which needed in future breastfeeding promotion and education program. Therefore, it is anticipated that health care professionals to integrate religious and cultural aspects while promoting and educating mothers on breastfeeding practice.