Exclusive breastfeeding in Vietnam: an attainable goal

  1. Stina Almroth1,
  2. Maaike Arts2,
  3. Nguyen Dinh Quang3,
  4. Pham Thi Thuy Hoa4,
  5. Carol Williams5

Article first published online: 14 MAY 2008

DOI: 10.1111/j.1651-2227.2008.00844.x

Issue

Acta Paediatrica

Acta Paediatrica

Volume 97, Issue 8, pages 1066–1069, August 2008

Additional Information

How to Cite

Almroth, S., Arts, M., Quang, N. D., Hoa, P. T. T. and Williams, C. (2008), Exclusive breastfeeding in Vietnam: an attainable goal. Acta Paediatrica, 97: 1066–1069. doi: 10.1111/j.1651-2227.2008.00844.x

Author Information

  1. 1

    Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden

  2. 2

    UNICEF, Hanoi, Vietnam (currently with Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, Maputo, Mozambique)

  3. 3

    UNICEF, Hanoi Vietnam

  4. 4

    National Institute of Nutrition, Hanoi, Vietnam

  5. 5

    Institute of Child Health, London, UK

*Correspondence Stina Almroth, Department of Neurobiology, Caring Sciences and Society, Karolinska University Hospital, Huddinge, 141 86 Stockholm, Sweden. Tel: +91 981 052 1347 or +4673 730 9448 | Email: stinaalmroth@yahoo.com

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 8 JUL 2008
  2. Article first published online: 14 MAY 2008
  3. Received 12 September 2007; revised 16 February 2008; accepted 20 February 2008.

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Keywords:

  • Exclusive breastfeeding;
  • HIV/AIDS;
  • Infant feeding;
  • Vietnam

Abstract

Aim: To explore community views on the feasibility of exclusive breastfeeding in Vietnam.

Methods: A total of 118 interviews were conducted with mothers, grandmothers, fathers, health workers and ‘oldest women’ in rural and urban areas in the north and south of Vietnam. Special issues were further examined through 12 ‘strategic interviews’.

Findings: Exclusive breastfeeding was rare because it was poorly understood and little appreciated, by health professionals as well as lay persons, as the best way to feed an infant during the first 6 months. Early fluid supplementation was the rule and most infants received water and milk in addition to breast milk. While a majority of the women worked, they had found ways to manage their work so that it did not need to interfere with exclusive breastfeeding. Family members expressed a readiness to support exclusive breastfeeding when it was explained to them.

Conclusion: Exclusive breastfeeding in Vietnam, while currently uncommon, is an attainable goal. Establishing exclusive breastfeeding as the norm in the general population would make it easier for HIV-infected women, for whom replacement feeding is not acceptable, feasible, affordable, sustainable and safe, to breastfeed exclusively.

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