Temiar Women Breastfeeding Experiences: A Journey to Empowerment
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Abstract
Empowerment of women pertaining to breastfeeding gives women the ability to act and the right to do so. Breastfeeding confirms a woman’s power to control her own body and a woman’s unique ability to care for her infant in the best way possible. Empowerment of mothers will help protect or restore breastfeeding cultures around the world. A qualitative research method involving 15 in-depth interviews and four focus group discussions were chosen in this study to compare and contrast two different locations: the communities of Pos Tuel and Pos Brooke in Kelantan, Malaysia which represent different lifestyle experiences of indigenous Temiar people. Analysis of participants’ descriptions led to the emergence of four main categories: knowledge and skills pertaining to breastfeeding, maternal satisfaction and enjoyment in breastfeeding, family belief in the value of breastfeeding, and breastfeeding support from surrounding people. The findings from this study are crucial in the preservation of breastfeeding culture among the women and can be used to design comprehensive plans in promoting breastfeeding among other indigenous groups.
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