Somali Knowledge Attitude Practices Study (KAPS) - EthnoMed

ATTITUDES AND BELIEFS ON BREASTFEEDING
The study found a common belief among more than 50% of the women in all livelihood zones in
South and Central Zone that there is no milk produced in the breast until the 3 rd day after delivery.
Another common belief in all livelihood zones related to lack of breast milk was that nipples are
blocked and cannot produce milk during the first 3 days after delivery. Everyone in all livelihood
zones also believes that breast feeding should not stop until the child is two (2) years old. To
almost all women in South Central Somalia, exclusive breastfeeding does not exist.
Initiation of Breastfeeding
Among the pastoralists, initiation of breastfeeding does not take place in the 1 st three days after
delivery due to the belief that the baby needs water to remove air and mucus that was swallowed
in the womb and during the birth process. Majority of the pastoralists also believe that
breastfeeding during the first three days cause diarrhoea in children and the pain experienced by
mothers as they try to breastfeed could result in maternal death after delivery. It was also found
that women avoid breastfeeding during the first three days of delivery due to the belief that
breastfeeding soon after birth increases the size of breasts, and their men detest big breasts.
More than 70% of agro-pastoral mothers also believe that there is no milk in the breast in the first
three days and that the nipples are still blocked and unable to produces milk. In the riverine
community, over 70% of women also believe that there is no milk until the third day after
delivery. Similar beliefs of lack of milk in the breast in the first three days after delivery and that
the nipples are not yet open are also found among over 50% of the urban population who do not
believe in initiating breastfeeding immediately after delivery.
Colostrum Milk
The pastoralists believe that colostrum is heavy, thick and coarse, hence babies cannot swallow.
The colostrums is also believed to be dirty and toxic, with no health benefits and can cause illness
in children. believe it is heavy, thick and not good for the child. In Gedo, it is believed that
colostrums is not good for the baby as it causes stomach pain and diarrhoea, hence should be
‘rinsed out’. About 10% mothers in agro-pastoral livelihood however believe that colostrums
protects children against illnesses, but that it does not come until the third day after delivery. In
the riverine, it was reported that maternal grandmothers believe that colostrums is heavy, thick
and unhealthy for children. These grandmothers tend to have a strong influence on their daughters
and other women of reproductive age group not to feed children on colostrums.
In urban communities, the common belief that colostrums is poisonous and causes diarrhoea in
children also exists. However, the urban women, both elderly and child bearing age, who have
attended the World Breastfeeding Week Celebrations, hold a different opinion on colostrums.
About 10-15% of them believe that colostrum is good and makes baby healthy, strong and active.
“A breastfed baby is always healthy”.
Use of Water and other Liquids alongside Breastfeeding
Majority of people in all livelihood zones believe that a child cannot survive without water, and
that breast milk alone is not enough for the baby. Water and animal milk must therefore be given
alongside breastfeeding right from birth. The pastoralists believe that water must also be given
whenever a child cries because of the belief that should the child cry and die, the child will report
the mother to God. The agro-pastoralists also believe that a child cannot survive without water.
Majority of women in the riverine also believe that a child who is exclusively breastfed becomes
deaf (Dhagol). Water and other forms of milk must therefore be given alongside breastfeeding to
avoid development of deafness in the child.
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