Psychosocial experiences of HIV-positive women of African descent in the cultural context of infant feeding: A three-country comparative analyses
Date
2020
Authors
Etowa, Josephine B.
Nare, Hilary
Kakuru, Doris M.
Etowa, Egbe B.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Abstract
Infant feeding among mothers of African descent living with Human Immunodeficiency
Virus (HIV) is a critical practice that is influenced by policies, cultural expectations, and the resultant
psychosocial state of the mother. Hence, this paper draws insights from a broader infant feeding study.
It provides insights into how guidelines on infant feeding practices, cultural expectations, migration,
or geographic status intersect to influence the psychosocial experiences of mothers living with HIV.
We compared psychosocial experiences of Black mothers of African descent living with HIV in Nigeria
versus those in high-income countries (Canada and USA), in the context of contrasting national
infant feeding guidelines, cultural beliefs about breastfeeding, and geographic locations. Survey was
conducted in venue-based convenience samples in two comparative groups: (Ottawa, Canada and
Miami-FL, USA combined [n = 290]), and (Port Harcourt, Nigeria [n = 400]). Using independent
samples t-statistics, we compared the means and distributions of six psychosocial attributes between
Black mothers in two distinct: Infant feeding groups (IFGs), cultural, and geographical contexts
at p < 0.05. Psychosocial attributes, such as discrimination and stigma, were greater in women
who exclusively formula feed (EFF) than in women who exclusively breastfeed (EBF) at p < 0.01.
Heightened vigilance, discrimination, and stigma scores were greater in women whose infant feeding
practices were informed by cultural beliefs (CBs) compared to those not informed by CBs at p < 0.001.
Discrimination and stigma scores were greater among mothers in Canada and the USA than in Nigeria
at p < 0.001. Heightened vigilance and perceived stress scores were less among women in Canada
and the USA than in Nigeria at p < 0.001. The guidelines on infant feeding practices for mothers with
HIV should consider cultural expectations and migration/locational status of mothers.
Description
Keywords
black mothers, infant feeding guidelines, breast feeding, sociocultural factors, women living with HIV, mother-to-child transmission, psychosocial influences
Citation
Etowa, J., Nare, H., Kakuru, D. M., & Etowa, E. B. (2020). “Psychosocial experiences of HIV-positive women of African descent in the cultural context of infant feeding: A three-country comparative analyses.” International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(19), 7150. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17197150