Nurture and Intimacy in the Public Gaze: Women's experiences of breastfeeding in public in the UK

Stefanie Williams; Louise M. Wallace; Julie Bayley

Nurture and Intimacy in the Public Gaze: Women's experiences of breastfeeding in public in the UK

Stefanie Williams
, Louise M. Wallace
, Julie Bayley

Research output: Contribution to conference › Poster

Abstract

Background: WHO/UNICEF recommend exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months to maximise health advantages, but this is provided for under 2% of UK babies. The subjective norm construct of the TPB highlights the importance of personal normative influences on breastfeeding decisions; yet wider cultural norms are also potentially influential. This study aims to understand women’s experiences of breastfeeding in public. Methods: 1389 breastfeeding mothers completed a web survey. Quantitative and qualitative (thematic) analyses were applied to the survey data. Findings: 22% of mothers with experience of breastfeeding in public were asked to stop (n=287) and only half reported it was a positive experience (n=614). Five themes were generated; Intimidation, social exclusion, lack of facilities, support and protection. Discussion: The impact of cultural norms is a powerful influence on breastfeeding duration. A broad multi-faceted approach which encompasses society and legal policy is therefore required to increase breastfeeding rates in the UK.

Original language	English
Publication status	Published - 2008
Event	British Psychological Society Division of Health Psychology Annual Conference - Bath, United Kingdom Duration: 9 Sept 2008 → 12 Sept 2008 http://www.ehps.net/?option=com_content&view=article&id=110%3Aconference-2008&catid=18&Itemid=210

Conference

Conference	British Psychological Society Division of Health Psychology Annual Conference
Country/Territory	United Kingdom
City	Bath
Period	9/09/08 → 12/09/08
Internet address	http://www.ehps.net/?option=com_content&view=article&id=110%3Aconference-2008&catid=18&Itemid=210

Bibliographical note

The full text of this item is not available from the repository. Paper presented at the 2008 British Psychological Society Division of Health Psychology/ European Health Psychology Society
Annual Conference, held 9-12 September 2008, Bath, UK. Please note Stephanie Williams was using the surname Ashford at the time of presentation.

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities

Keywords

breastfeeding
health promotion
cultural norms

Cite this

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title = "Nurture and Intimacy in the Public Gaze: Women's experiences of breastfeeding in public in the UK",

abstract = "Background: WHO/UNICEF recommend exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months to maximise health advantages, but this is provided for under 2\% of UK babies. The subjective norm construct of the TPB highlights the importance of personal normative influences on breastfeeding decisions; yet wider cultural norms are also potentially influential. This study aims to understand women{\textquoteright}s experiences of breastfeeding in public. Methods: 1389 breastfeeding mothers completed a web survey. Quantitative and qualitative (thematic) analyses were applied to the survey data. Findings: 22\% of mothers with experience of breastfeeding in public were asked to stop (n=287) and only half reported it was a positive experience (n=614). Five themes were generated; Intimidation, social exclusion, lack of facilities, support and protection. Discussion: The impact of cultural norms is a powerful influence on breastfeeding duration. A broad multi-faceted approach which encompasses society and legal policy is therefore required to increase breastfeeding rates in the UK.",

keywords = "breastfeeding, health promotion, cultural norms",

author = "Stefanie Williams and Wallace, \{Louise M.\} and Julie Bayley",

note = "The full text of this item is not available from the repository. Paper presented at the 2008 British Psychological Society Division of Health Psychology/ European Health Psychology Society Annual Conference, held 9-12 September 2008, Bath, UK. Please note Stephanie Williams was using the surname Ashford at the time of presentation.; British Psychological Society Division of Health Psychology Annual Conference ; Conference date: 09-09-2008 Through 12-09-2008",

year = "2008",

language = "English",

url = "http://www.ehps.net/?option=com\_content\&view=article\&id=110\%3Aconference-2008\&catid=18\&Itemid=210",

}

TY - CONF

T1 - Nurture and Intimacy in the Public Gaze

T2 - British Psychological Society Division of Health Psychology Annual Conference

AU - Williams, Stefanie

AU - Wallace, Louise M.

AU - Bayley, Julie

N1 - The full text of this item is not available from the repository. Paper presented at the 2008 British Psychological Society Division of Health Psychology/ European Health Psychology Society Annual Conference, held 9-12 September 2008, Bath, UK. Please note Stephanie Williams was using the surname Ashford at the time of presentation.

PY - 2008

Y1 - 2008

N2 - Background: WHO/UNICEF recommend exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months to maximise health advantages, but this is provided for under 2% of UK babies. The subjective norm construct of the TPB highlights the importance of personal normative influences on breastfeeding decisions; yet wider cultural norms are also potentially influential. This study aims to understand women’s experiences of breastfeeding in public. Methods: 1389 breastfeeding mothers completed a web survey. Quantitative and qualitative (thematic) analyses were applied to the survey data. Findings: 22% of mothers with experience of breastfeeding in public were asked to stop (n=287) and only half reported it was a positive experience (n=614). Five themes were generated; Intimidation, social exclusion, lack of facilities, support and protection. Discussion: The impact of cultural norms is a powerful influence on breastfeeding duration. A broad multi-faceted approach which encompasses society and legal policy is therefore required to increase breastfeeding rates in the UK.

AB - Background: WHO/UNICEF recommend exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months to maximise health advantages, but this is provided for under 2% of UK babies. The subjective norm construct of the TPB highlights the importance of personal normative influences on breastfeeding decisions; yet wider cultural norms are also potentially influential. This study aims to understand women’s experiences of breastfeeding in public. Methods: 1389 breastfeeding mothers completed a web survey. Quantitative and qualitative (thematic) analyses were applied to the survey data. Findings: 22% of mothers with experience of breastfeeding in public were asked to stop (n=287) and only half reported it was a positive experience (n=614). Five themes were generated; Intimidation, social exclusion, lack of facilities, support and protection. Discussion: The impact of cultural norms is a powerful influence on breastfeeding duration. A broad multi-faceted approach which encompasses society and legal policy is therefore required to increase breastfeeding rates in the UK.

KW - breastfeeding

KW - health promotion

KW - cultural norms

M3 - Poster

Y2 - 9 September 2008 through 12 September 2008

ER -

Nurture and Intimacy in the Public Gaze: Women's experiences of breastfeeding in public in the UK

Abstract

Conference

Bibliographical note

UN SDGs

Keywords

Fingerprint

Cite this