The practice and attitudes of gypsy and traveller women towards early infant feeding

Abstract

This research explores the early infant feeding practice of gypsy and traveller women and their attitudes towards breast and formula feeding in one primary care trust. This research was undertaken using a quantitative research approach. Two structured questionnaires were administered. The first questionnaire was completed by all health visitors employed by the trust. This questionnaire established that most gypsy and traveller women choose to formula feed their infants and the breastfeeding rate in this community is very low. The second questionnaire was completed by 50% of the gypsy and traveller community who met the inclusion criteria. The Iowa Infant Feeding Attitude Scale (IIFAS) was completed as part of this questionnaire. This questionnaire showed that gypsy and traveller women had a more neutral attitude towards early infant feeding than was expected. This is significant as previous research suggests that women with neutral attitude scores are not fixed in their early infant feeding intentions. This therefore implies that the infant feeding practice of these women could potentially be influenced. This study, therefore, concludes that implementing focused interventions aimed at promoting breastfeeding could potentially increase the breastfeeding initiation rate in this community.