PDF(Pubmed)
Abstract：
UNASSIGNED: Although exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) has many benefits, it is not commonly practiced in several countries as a result of context-specific challenges. EBF practice is thus a global health discourse because over 200 million children suffer from malnutrition despite the abundance of human milk. The risk of starvation remains very high among African children with less than 40% of them exclusively breastfed. In Africa, the adoption or nonadherence to EBF is a sociocultural issue. Hence, this narrative review examined the sociocultural context of EBF in the region.
UNASSIGNED: PubMed, Google Scholar, and Scopus were searched using keywords related to EBF and Africa. Relevant data from selected studies were synthesized narratively and reported using a structured narrative format.
UNASSIGNED: EBF is strongly rooted in every culture and is a culturally determined behavior. Some believe that colostrum is dirty and harmful to newborns and, thus, needs to be purified. Despite the belief that human milk is the best food for babies, mothers often complement human milk with other foods right from birth because of perceived lactation inadequacy. Most African mothers believe in prelacteal feeding to help cleanse the infant\'s gastrointestinal tract for digestion, quench thirst, flush the bladder and help the mother to rest after childbirth before breastfeeding (BF) is initiated. The role of significant others was equally found important in the decision and duration of BF. The availability of family support (especially from grandmothers and husbands) reportedly encouraged EBF in Africa. The duration and exclusivity of BF in Africa are negatively associated with demographic variables like young age, low level of education, being unmarried, low income, out of employment, and parity (first-time mother).
UNASSIGNED: While there have been some efforts and policies to improve EBF, it is important to consider context-specific challenges and sociocultural factors. There is a need for more deliberate efforts to encourage mothers through the implementation of effective best practices concerning EBF in Africa.
UNASSIGNED: PubMed, Google Scholar, and Scopus were searched using keywords related to EBF and Africa. Relevant data from selected studies were synthesized narratively and reported using a structured narrative format.
UNASSIGNED: EBF is strongly rooted in every culture and is a culturally determined behavior. Some believe that colostrum is dirty and harmful to newborns and, thus, needs to be purified. Despite the belief that human milk is the best food for babies, mothers often complement human milk with other foods right from birth because of perceived lactation inadequacy. Most African mothers believe in prelacteal feeding to help cleanse the infant\'s gastrointestinal tract for digestion, quench thirst, flush the bladder and help the mother to rest after childbirth before breastfeeding (BF) is initiated. The role of significant others was equally found important in the decision and duration of BF. The availability of family support (especially from grandmothers and husbands) reportedly encouraged EBF in Africa. The duration and exclusivity of BF in Africa are negatively associated with demographic variables like young age, low level of education, being unmarried, low income, out of employment, and parity (first-time mother).
UNASSIGNED: While there have been some efforts and policies to improve EBF, it is important to consider context-specific challenges and sociocultural factors. There is a need for more deliberate efforts to encourage mothers through the implementation of effective best practices concerning EBF in Africa.
摘要：
■尽管纯母乳喂养（EBF）有很多好处，由于特定环境的挑战，在几个国家并不常见。因此，EBF做法是一种全球健康话语，因为尽管母乳丰富，但仍有超过2亿儿童营养不良。非洲儿童的饥饿风险仍然很高，其中只有不到40％的儿童完全母乳喂养。在非洲,采用或不遵守EBF是一个社会文化问题。因此，这篇叙述性综述考察了该地区EBF的社会文化背景。
■PubMed,谷歌学者，使用与EBF和非洲相关的关键字搜索Scopus。选定研究的相关数据进行了叙述式合成，并使用结构化的叙述格式进行了报告。
■EBF深深植根于每一种文化，是一种文化决定的行为。一些人认为初乳是肮脏的，对新生儿有害，因此，需要净化。尽管人们相信母乳是婴儿最好的食物，母亲们通常从出生起就用其他食物补充人乳，因为他们认为泌乳不足。大多数非洲母亲相信乳前喂养有助于清洁婴儿的胃肠道进行消化，解渴,在开始母乳喂养（BF）之前，冲洗膀胱并帮助母亲在分娩后休息。在BF的决定和持续时间中，重要的其他人的作用同样重要。据报道，家庭支持(特别是祖母和丈夫)的提供鼓励了非洲的EBF。非洲BF的持续时间和排他性与人口统计学变量呈负相关，如年轻年龄，教育水平低,未婚,低收入,失业,和平价（第一次母亲）。
■虽然已经做出了一些努力和政策来改善EBF，重要的是要考虑特定环境的挑战和社会文化因素。需要更加深思熟虑地努力，通过在非洲实施关于EBF的有效最佳做法来鼓励母亲。
■PubMed,谷歌学者，使用与EBF和非洲相关的关键字搜索Scopus。选定研究的相关数据进行了叙述式合成，并使用结构化的叙述格式进行了报告。
■EBF深深植根于每一种文化，是一种文化决定的行为。一些人认为初乳是肮脏的，对新生儿有害，因此，需要净化。尽管人们相信母乳是婴儿最好的食物，母亲们通常从出生起就用其他食物补充人乳，因为他们认为泌乳不足。大多数非洲母亲相信乳前喂养有助于清洁婴儿的胃肠道进行消化，解渴,在开始母乳喂养（BF）之前，冲洗膀胱并帮助母亲在分娩后休息。在BF的决定和持续时间中，重要的其他人的作用同样重要。据报道，家庭支持(特别是祖母和丈夫)的提供鼓励了非洲的EBF。非洲BF的持续时间和排他性与人口统计学变量呈负相关，如年轻年龄，教育水平低,未婚,低收入,失业,和平价（第一次母亲）。
■虽然已经做出了一些努力和政策来改善EBF，重要的是要考虑特定环境的挑战和社会文化因素。需要更加深思熟虑地努力，通过在非洲实施关于EBF的有效最佳做法来鼓励母亲。
