Table 4 Barriers to breastfeeding
Themes | Codes | Quotations | Data Source (# times mentioned) |
|---|---|---|---|
Physical barriers | Mother is sick | “Sometime the mother was sick and stop breastfeeding.” - Mother (FGD Agojo) “When the mother is sick and has been advised to stop the baby from breastfeeding.” - Mother (FGD Nyumanzi) “When the mother is sick, the baby will not be allowed to breastfeed.” - Mother (FGD Nyumanzi) “Another reason is when the mother has developed breast cancer a baby is not supposed to breastfeed.” - Father (FGD Ayilo-I) “Also when the mother is infected with HIV/AIDS then the baby is not supposed to be breastfed that is why the baby may not be given breastmilk.” - Father (FGD Ayilo-I) If the mother is sick then she cannot breastfeed the kid.” - Father (FGD Ayilo-I) “If the mother is sick she will not breastfeed.” - Father (FGD Ayilo-I) | Fathers FGD (5) Mothers FGD (4) |
Mother has died | “Sometimes the biological mother died.” - Mother (FGD Agojo) “The mother the baby might have died and therefore the alternative is supplementary feeding.” - Father (FGD Ayilo-I) | Fathers FGD (1) Mothers FGD (1) | |
Perceived milk insufficiency | “Sometimes there is no breastmilk for the baby.” - Mother (FGD Agojo) “There will be no breastmilk.” - Mother (FGD Agojo) “When a baby is four months old and the mother does not produce enough milk they should be given other feedings.” - Mother (FGD Nyumanzi) “When the wife has produced twins extra feeding should be added on top of breastmilk because the milk from the mother is not enough for the two babies.” – Father (FGD Ayilo-I) | Fathers FGD (2) Mothers FGD (4) | |
Breastfeeding difficulties | “They did not start giving breastfeeding on time that is why no breastmilk is coming.” - Mother (FGD Agojo) “When the baby doesn’t breastfeed well he or she should be given extra feedings.” - Father (FGD Ayilo-I) “When a baby is born and refuses to breastfeed that child is given the supplementary feeding.” - Father (FGD Ayilo-I) | Fathers FGD (2) Mothers FGD (2) | |
Socioeconomic barriers | Mother is working | “Other mothers are working class.” - Mother (FGD Agojo) | Mothers FGD (1) |
Educated mother uses other milk | “For educated mothers they can say they will not feed their child on breastmilk they will use other milk.” - Mother (FGD Agojo) | Mothers FGD (1) | |
Knowledge barriers | Breastfeeding should stop at 3 months | “Weaning a baby can sometime reach 3 months if the baby has no access to supplementary feedings and when it is naturally weak.” - Mother (FGD Nyumanzi) | Mothers FGD (1) |
Infant under 6 months should eat and drink items other than breastmilk | “When the mother produces less milk, then the parent buys the powder milk and dilute it with the water and give it to the baby they also buy Blueband [margarine] for the baby.” - Mother (FGD Nyumanzi) “The parent buys the powder milk and dilute it with the water.” - Mother (FGD Nyumanzi) “It can be after 3 months.” - Father (FGD Ayilo-I) | Fathers FGD (3) Mothers FGD (5) | |
Sick baby needs more than breastmilk | “You try to feed a sick baby with milk.” - Mother (FGD Nyumanzi) “I can provide porridge for the sick baby.” - Mother (FGD Nyumanzi) “I can give a sick child some soft drinks the ones that he might want.” - Mother (FGD Nyumanzi) | Mothers FGD (4) | |
Psychosocial barriers | Fighting with husband | “When the wife is not happy at home for example she might have fought with the husband and she may refuse to breastfeed the child.” - Father (FGD Ayilo-I) | Fathers FGD (2) |
Fear of pain | “The other young woman who has just started giving birth may fear to breastfeed the baby she may feel painful to breastfeed.” - Father (FGD Ayilo-I) | Fathers FGD (1) | |
Mother has mental health issues | “The mother is mentally challenged.” - Father (FGD Ayilo-I) | Fathers FGD (2) |