Exploring maternal constraints and opportunities in following public health breastfeeding and complementary feeding recommendations in two highland communities of Cusco, Peru

MONTEBAN M

CALGARY

Congreso; Annual Meeting of the Human Biology Association; 2014

HUMAN BIOLOGY ASSOCIATION

Many social and environmental factors affect infant growth in the Andes. Hypoxia, for example, is associated with reduced birth weight and slower infant growth. Economic variability and access to health care also play a critical role. In recent years the Peruvian Ministry of Public Health is focusing much attention on promoting exclusive breastfeeding and improving complementary feeding practices because it is seen as having a direct effect on infant growth patterns. Among rural highland Quechua populations a number of factors may result in supplementation that is too early and complementation that is too late relative to public health recommendations. As part of my dissertation research in highland Quechua communities of Cusco, Peru I conducted open-ended interviews and observations of actual practices with mothers and infants. My goal was to explore causes of variation in patterns of breastfeeding and complementary feeding among individual infants. I found that breastfeeding and complementary feeding are shaped by cultural beliefs, economic constraints, and infant centered cues. Interventions to promote exclusive breastfeeding and complementary feeding practices should consider maternal constraints and opportunities in the design of health interventions targeted at reducing the significant burden of infant growth in highland Quechua populations and other populations in similar conditions.