Dettwyler K A
Soc Sci Med. 1987;24(8):633-44. doi: 10.1016/0277-9536(87)90306-6.
Patterns of infant feeding, based on cultural beliefs, affect the nutritional status, health, and growth of children. In order to understand malnutrition and infant health in a particular community, knowledge of both the beliefs and the practices associated with infant feeding in that community is essential. For this reason, it is critical that research strategies for collecting both traditional 'soft' data (the cultural context) and 'hard' data (observed patterns of infant feeding) be employed. A two-year study of infant feeding in Mali (1982-1983) provides detailed information about breastfeeding and weaning beliefs and practices. In this community, virtually all women breastfed their infants. Infants were nursed on demand, for comfort as well as nutrition. Weaning took place at an average age of 20.8 months, with a range of 6-32 months (N = 136). Bottle/formula use was very rare. Breastfeeding and weaning practices affected the growth and development of infants during the first two years of life. In contrast to many other populations, however, a number of infants in this community showed improved growth after weaning. Some traditional beliefs about infant feeding are changing under the pressure of urban norms, while others remain resistant to change, with varying effects on infant health.
基于文化信仰的婴儿喂养模式会影响儿童的营养状况、健康和成长。为了了解特定社区的营养不良和婴儿健康情况，了解该社区与婴儿喂养相关的信仰和做法至关重要。因此，采用收集传统“软”数据（文化背景）和“硬”数据（观察到的婴儿喂养模式）的研究策略至关重要。在马里进行的一项为期两年的婴儿喂养研究（1982 - 1983年）提供了有关母乳喂养和断奶信仰及做法的详细信息。在这个社区，几乎所有女性都母乳喂养婴儿。婴儿按需哺乳，既为了获取营养，也为了获得安抚。断奶平均发生在20.8个月时，范围为6 - 32个月（N = 136）。奶瓶/配方奶的使用非常罕见。母乳喂养和断奶做法影响了婴儿出生后头两年的生长发育。然而，与许多其他人群不同的是，这个社区的一些婴儿在断奶后生长情况有所改善。一些关于婴儿喂养的传统信仰在城市规范的压力下正在发生变化，而另一些则抵制变化，对婴儿健康产生了不同的影响。
