Local Wisdom and Breastfeeding

Abstract

This cross-sectional study aimed to examine postpartum mothers’ beliefs regarding food consumption to promote breastfeeding based on local wisdom, and to identify the factors associated with the transmission of such practices. The sample consisted of 185 postpartum mothers in Nakhon Nayok Province, Thailand. Data were collected using structured questionnaires and analyzed using descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression. The findings revealed that 45.4% of the mothers exclusively breastfed their infants during the first six months. Overall, 74.1% of participants held a high level of belief in consuming specific foods to promote lactation based on local wisdom. Specifically, 79.5% believed in food consumption to stimulate milk secretion, while 63.8% believed in foods that nourish milk. Factors significantly associated with the transmission of local wisdom practices included previous experience using local wisdom (OR = 8.106), having a bachelor’s degree or higher (OR = 2.944), being employed in government or company positions (OR = 0.400), and holding strong beliefs in nourishing foods (OR = 0.213), all with p < .05. The study highlights the continued relevance of local wisdom in maternal practices and suggests integrating such beliefs into health promotion strategies to improve breastfeeding rates