Presentation Information

Infant feeding and infant care in a South Asian immigrant community

• Speaker: Dr. Martin Ward Platt , MB, ChB, MD, FRCP, FRCPCH
• Presentation Type:
• Duration: 60 Mins
• Credits: 1 CERP, 1 Nursing CEU, 1 CME, .1 Midwifery CEU

Abstract:

There is increasing evidence that the cultural context of infant care is influential in both creating and mitigating risks relating to sudden unexpected death in infancy; furthermore it is known that some ethnic minority communities in England show far lower risks for SUDI than the background population. Recent ethnographic work in multicultural communities in the north of England has demonstrated that attitudes and practices among the south asian immigrant community diverge from the stereotypical beliefs of the (mainly white british) primary care health professionals. 'Health' messages designed around the culture and behaviour of the white british community have no resonance with the experiences and expertise of the south asian community, and have the paradoxical potential to increase the risk to ethnic minority infants if it were not for the fact that they are largely disregarded by the minority community.