Presentation Information

Breastfeeding Barriers & Needed Supports: Helping Refugee Mothers Seeking Refuge in High-Income Countries

• Speaker: Shela Hirani , PhD, MScN, RN, BScN, IBCLC
• Presentation Type:
• Duration: 60 Mins
• Credits:

Abstract:

Refugee mothers are vulnerable to cultural stereotyping and socioeconomic hardships when they migrate to a new country. This vulnerability often has a negative impact on refugee mothers’ breastfeeding practices, related to social, emotional, psychological, and physical stressors. Refugee mothers seeking refuge in high-income countries face a range of breastfeeding barriers that need attention.

To explore the range of factors that impede breastfeeding practices of refugee mothers accessing and utilizing healthcare services of a high-income country (Canada), a critical ethnographic study was undertaken in Saskatchewan which is one of the growing provinces in Canada. After seeking ethics approval, in-depth interviews were undertaken with 27 refugee mothers with young children of age range 1 day to 24 months. Data were also gathered through observations of breastfeeding services in healthcare settings and a review of the websites of the healthcare settings in Saskatchewan. Learn about the findings of this study and practical suggestions for helping refugee mothers in your community.