Got milk? Not in public!
2008
Breastfeeding in Public: Cultural Attitudes and Health Consequences
publication
Author Information
Author(s): Jacqueline H Wolf
Primary Institution: Department of Social Medicine, College of Osteopathic Medicine, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio, USA
Hypothesis
The American focus on the sexual purpose of breasts negatively impacts breastfeeding rates and health outcomes.
Conclusion
Discomfort with public breastfeeding lowers breastfeeding rates, adversely affecting women's and children's health.
Supporting Evidence
- 70% of new mothers initiate breastfeeding, but many stop early due to discomfort with public breastfeeding.
- By six months, 90% of breastfeeding mothers have introduced formula to their babies' diet.
- Breastfeeding is not intuitive and is a learned behavior, which is hindered by lack of public support.
Takeaway
People in America often feel uncomfortable seeing women breastfeed in public, which makes it hard for mothers to feed their babies and can lead to health problems.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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