Iranian Mothers’ Cultural Beliefs about Weaning: a Cross-Sectional Study in West Mazandaran Province, Iran

Background: Weaning methods play an important role in children’s future feeding status. Poor maternal practices, such as early or late weaning and applying unsafe methods, can be influenced by prevailing cultural beliefs in a society. Recognition of mothers’ cultural beliefs about weaning by health care providers can be helpful in providing culture-based education and consultations. The aim of the present study was to determine Iranian mothers’ cultural beliefs about weaning. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study with ۳۱۰ mothers recruited from health centers in ...in cities of west Mazandaran province (Ramsar, Tonekabon, Chalus, Noshahr), Iran. Data were gathered with questionnaires assessing ‘demographic characteristics ‘and ‘mothers’ cultural beliefs about weaning’. SPSS software were applied for data analysis. Results: The mean age of mothers was ۳۱.۶±۵.۲. The last child average age was ۳.۰±۴۶.۸۵. Most mothers had High school education (۵۱.۶%), were housewife (۵۹.۷%) and had city living (۸۹%). Current duration of breastfeeding was ۱۹-۲۴ months in the majority (۳۸.۸%). Scores vary from ۱۹ to ۲۴۵. The mean score of weaning beliefs was ۱۴۷.۱۴±۳.۴۷; while the highest mean component score (۵۹.۷۴±۲.۷۱) was related to ‘‘contexts’’. There were also statistically significant relationships among the variables of age (p = ۰.۰۱), number of children (p = ۰.۰۰۱), breastfeeding duration (p = ۰.۰۰۱), living location (p = ۰.۰۰۱), and children’s gender (p = ۰.۰۳) with cultural beliefs about weaning. Conclusion: The results of this study have shown the obvious role of negative beliefs about weaning. Therefore, healthcare providers can increase mothers’ awareness regarding appropriate weaning times and methods during pregnancy and post-childbirth care programs by holding both educational and consulting sessions for mothers.

Keywords:

Cultural beliefs , mothers , weaning time , weaning methods