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Positive deviance inquiry of breastfeeding in Egypt

Increases in malnutrition among Egyptian children under five years have been associated with decreases in rates of breastfeeding. International and national research have identified personal and contextual challenges that lower the chances of women breastfeeding. These challenges include lack of kno...

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Main Author: Sarhan, Ayah
Format: Thesis
Published: AUC Knowledge Fountain 2020
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access_status_str Open Access
author Sarhan, Ayah
author_browse Sarhan, Ayah
author_facet Sarhan, Ayah
author_sort Sarhan, Ayah
collection Thesis
dc_rights_str_mv The author retains all rights with regard to copyright. The author certifies that written permission from the owner(s) of third-party copyrighted matter included in the thesis, dissertation, paper, or record of study has been obtained. The author further certifies that IRB approval has been obtained for this thesis, or that IRB approval is not necessary for this thesis. Insofar as this thesis, dissertation, paper, or record of study is an educational record as defined in the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) (20 USC 1232g), the author has granted consent to disclosure of it to anyone who requests a copy.
description Increases in malnutrition among Egyptian children under five years have been associated with decreases in rates of breastfeeding. International and national research have identified personal and contextual challenges that lower the chances of women breastfeeding. These challenges include lack of knowledge and support by medical personnel and family, negative societal attitudes, and institutional practices that inhibit breastfeeding. In this study, a positive deviance approach was used to identify the practices that enabled middle-class Egyptian women to initiate and continue breastfeeding. Data was collected from 33 positive deviant mothers using a survey and a semi-structured interview. Findings confirmed that they faced personal and structural challenges and including cultural beliefs and practices. Positive deviant mothers' persistence, self-efficacy, and confidence were enabling personal factors. They were aware of breastfeeding benefits to the baby. In addition, they insisted that their needs be met, ignored disempowering advice and people, and were eager to learn. Based on these findings, it is recommended to design a community intervention program for pregnant mothers to strengthen self-efficacy and inform them how to start and continue breastfeeding, and communicate and elicit help from their significant family members. Also, mothers need access for support from medical practitioners trained in lactation management and to network with other mothers in support groups. Other structural factors require policy change to allow for flexible work arrangements, or facilities that would enable them to continue breastfeeding.
format Thesis
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institution American University in Cairo (Egypt)
last_indexed 2026-06-10T12:35:43.583Z
license_str Other — see source repository
provenance_str_mv Harvested via OAI-PMH from AUC Knowledge Fountain — bepress
publishDate 2020
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spelling oai:fount.aucegypt.edu:etds-1814 Positive deviance inquiry of breastfeeding in Egypt Sarhan, Ayah Increases in malnutrition among Egyptian children under five years have been associated with decreases in rates of breastfeeding. International and national research have identified personal and contextual challenges that lower the chances of women breastfeeding. These challenges include lack of knowledge and support by medical personnel and family, negative societal attitudes, and institutional practices that inhibit breastfeeding. In this study, a positive deviance approach was used to identify the practices that enabled middle-class Egyptian women to initiate and continue breastfeeding. Data was collected from 33 positive deviant mothers using a survey and a semi-structured interview. Findings confirmed that they faced personal and structural challenges and including cultural beliefs and practices. Positive deviant mothers' persistence, self-efficacy, and confidence were enabling personal factors. They were aware of breastfeeding benefits to the baby. In addition, they insisted that their needs be met, ignored disempowering advice and people, and were eager to learn. Based on these findings, it is recommended to design a community intervention program for pregnant mothers to strengthen self-efficacy and inform them how to start and continue breastfeeding, and communicate and elicit help from their significant family members. Also, mothers need access for support from medical practitioners trained in lactation management and to network with other mothers in support groups. Other structural factors require policy change to allow for flexible work arrangements, or facilities that would enable them to continue breastfeeding. 2020-02-01T08:00:00Z thesis application/pdf https://fount.aucegypt.edu/etds/815 https://fount.aucegypt.edu/context/etds/article/1814/viewcontent/Final_20Ayah_Sarhan_20PDI_20of_20bf_20112019_20uplo.pdf The author retains all rights with regard to copyright. The author certifies that written permission from the owner(s) of third-party copyrighted matter included in the thesis, dissertation, paper, or record of study has been obtained. The author further certifies that IRB approval has been obtained for this thesis, or that IRB approval is not necessary for this thesis. Insofar as this thesis, dissertation, paper, or record of study is an educational record as defined in the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) (20 USC 1232g), the author has granted consent to disclosure of it to anyone who requests a copy. Theses and Dissertations AUC Knowledge Fountain malnutrition breastfeeding
spellingShingle malnutrition
breastfeeding
Sarhan, Ayah
Positive deviance inquiry of breastfeeding in Egypt
title Positive deviance inquiry of breastfeeding in Egypt
title_full Positive deviance inquiry of breastfeeding in Egypt
title_fullStr Positive deviance inquiry of breastfeeding in Egypt
title_full_unstemmed Positive deviance inquiry of breastfeeding in Egypt
title_short Positive deviance inquiry of breastfeeding in Egypt
title_sort positive deviance inquiry of breastfeeding in egypt
topic malnutrition
breastfeeding
url https://fount.aucegypt.edu/etds/815
https://fount.aucegypt.edu/context/etds/article/1814/viewcontent/Final_20Ayah_Sarhan_20PDI_20of_20bf_20112019_20uplo.pdf
work_keys_str_mv AT sarhanayah positivedevianceinquiryofbreastfeedinginegypt