Search

Background: Evidence suggests that forced migration and refugee status may adversely impact mothers' breastfeeding choices. Furthermore, suboptimal breastfeeding practices have been reported among vulnerable populations including those living in refugee settlements. Therefore, this study investigated the barriers and facilitators of breastfeeding in protracted settlements in Adjumani district, in the West Nile region in Uganda. Methods: This study was conducted among refugees living in protracted settlements located in Uganda in July 2019. Participants, originally from South Sudan, included mothers (n = 63) and fathers (n = 32) of children less than 24 months of age. Agojo, Ayilo-I, and Nyumanzi were randomly selected among the 17 refugee settlements in Adjumani. Participants formed a total of six focus group discussions (FGDs); four FGDs for mothers and two FGDs for fathers. Each FGD consisted of 15–16 participants. Data were transcribed verbatim and back-translated into English. Thematic analysis was used and data were analyzed using NVivo, v. 12. Results: Facilitators of breastfeeding included knowledge of breastfeeding benefits, support from husband/father, support from the community, and support from non-governmental organizations. Mothers and fathers noted that breastfeeding protected children from diseases and breastfed children grew well. Fathers, the community, and organizations provided material support for breastfeeding mothers. Four themes were identified as barriers to breastfeeding: physical, socioeconomic, knowledge, and psychosocial. Mothers and fathers described physical barriers such as mothers stop breastfeeding when they are sick or they feel they are not producing enough breastmilk. Mothers reported that working or educated mothers may use other milk to feed their infant. Some mothers and fathers believed infants under six months needed more than breastmilk. Fathers described psychosocial barriers such as mothers' fear of pain during breastfeeding and maternal mental health issues. Conclusion: Interventions and policies that aim to improve breastfeeding in protracted settlements should consider addressing the barriers to breastfeeding at each level: physical, socioeconomic, knowledge, and psychosocial. Involving and encouraging support from husbands/fathers, relatives, and the community may increase adherence to breastfeeding recommendations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evidence on the efficacy of women's empowerment to improve child growth and minimum dietary diversity (MDD) in the Eastern Africa (EA) region is limited. This cross‐sectional study used recent Demographic and Health Survey data of mother–child dyads from seven countries in EA to examine the associations between women's empowerment measures, child growth and MDD. Length‐for‐age z‐scores, weight‐for‐length z‐scores and weight‐for‐age z‐scores were used to categorize growth indicators of 6–23 months old children. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify significant associations. Among all countries, 32%–59% of children experienced growth failure. Children meeting MDD were 18%–45%. Women having self‐esteem were associated with lower odds of stunting (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 0.62 in Rwanda), wasting (AOR = 0.38 in Uganda), underweight (AORs = 0.60 and 0.57 in Tanzania and Uganda, respectively) and growth failure (AOR = 0.64 in Rwanda). Having health decision control in Burundi was associated with lower odds of stunting (AOR = 0.49) and child growth failure (AOR = 0.52) and higher odds of meeting MDD (AOR = 2.50). Having Legal empowerment among women increased the odds of stunting (AOR = 1.79 in Burundi), underweight (AOR = 1.77 in Uganda) and growth failure (AOR = 1.87 in Burundi). Economic empowerment showed mixed associations with child growth and MDD among some countries. Women's self‐esteem and health decision control were associated with better child growth and MDD for some countries in EA. Nutrition‐sensitive interventions aimed at improving child growth and MDD should consider local contexts when addressing women's empowerment. Key messages: Understanding the associations between women's empowerment, child growth and child dietary diversity is important for most nutrition‐sensitive interventions seeking to improve child feeding practices and growth by targeting mothers.In this study, for women to have self‐esteem and health decision control was consistently beneficial for child growth and minimum dietary diversity (MDD). Mixed associations existed among other women's empowerment measures, child growth and MDD across the seven East African countries investigated.For improved child growth and better child dietary diversity, targeting specific women's empowerment measures based on local context may be beneficial in the East African region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract When confronted with images of attractive women, women who are hostile toward women (HTW) may demonstrate negative upward comparison, i.e., feel bad about themselves, or they may discount other women’s attractiveness. We examined the relations between women’s HTW and negative upward comparison, discounting, and body consciousness. The effect on HTW of viewing images of women also was examined. HTW was higher among those first exposed to the images than among those in a control condition. In general, analyses of the two conditions separately indicated that HTW was associated with devaluing the attractiveness of attractive and average-looking images, but not with negative upward comparison. In contrast to the association between HTW and discounting, body shame was consistently related to negative upward comparison, as well as to HTW. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]