The Need for Culture Sensitive Participatory Health Promotion Activities to Promote Breastfeeding

Abstract

Breastfeeding practices are no longer a norm nowadays. Exclusive breastfeeding is an even bigger challenge, and although it is recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO) that mothers should exclusively breastfeed for the first six months of a baby’s life, not many mothers actually practice it. Health promotion activities to promote exclusive breastfeeding are necessary to improve the practices within communities. There is a need to be culturally sensitive when addressing communities as there are already values and beliefs in place that can either promote or hinder the process of health promotion. Community participation is also an important aspect to incorporate during implementation of breastfeeding-promotion activities, because it encourages active participation and is more likely to be accepted than an approach where the community is given information in a directive manner.