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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
arts and humanities
Colostrum and ideas about bad milk: A case study from Guinea-Bissau
Social Science and Medicine, Volume 36, No. 3, Year 1993
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Description
The study aims to explore ideas about bad milk found among women in Guinea-Bissau. Interviews were held with 20 elderly knowledgeable rural women. Interinformant agreement was high within each ethnic group studied. All the informants recognized colostrum but disliked its consistency. Depending on ethnical background, it was considered good, of no special value or harmful to the newborn baby. Further, all the informants held that mature breast milk could turn bad, e.g. in case of mother's sickness or adultery. Suspected bad milk can be diagnosed by putting an ant into it to observe if it dies. The condition of bad milk can be treated by various procedures. The findings are discussed in relation to similar ideas existing in other societies and to views on the quality of maternal milk held in the industrialized countries. It is proposed that the idea of producing bad milk may be an important determinant of breastfeeding performance generally. Restrictions imposed on the breastfeeding woman, with the intention of producing healthier breast milk, may actually contribute to a decline in breastfeeding. © 1993.
Authors & Co-Authors
Gunnlaugsson, Geir
Guinea-bissau
Centre of Maternal and Child Health
Sweden, Stockholm
Capio S:t Görans Sjukhus
Einarsdóttir, Jónína
Sweden, Stockholm
Stockholms Universitet
Statistics
Citations: 36
Authors: 2
Affiliations: 3
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1016/0277-9536(93)90011-R
ISSN:
02779536
Research Areas
Maternal And Child Health
Study Design
Case Study
Study Approach
Qualitative
Study Locations
Guinea
Guinea-Bissau
Participants Gender
Female