CULTURAL PERSPECTIVE IN EXCLUSIVE BREASTFEEDING

Abstract

Exclusive breastfeeding is an effort to reduce child mortality. Failure to provide exclusive
breastfeeding is closely related to the mother's behavior during breastfeeding. Social culture
involves cultural traditions and beliefs that guide behavior in society, including breastfeeding
behavior. Trust develops into something that can be trusted and becomes the basis for the mother's
behavior in breastfeeding. Culture or traditions are passed down from generation to generation and
become personal habits. The aim of this research is to determine the relationship between cultural
factors and exclusive breastfeeding behavior. This research is an analytical research with a crosssectional approach. The sampling technique used a random sampling system, the population
consisted of breastfeeding mothers who gave birth to babies aged between 6 and 12 months. The
sample size determined was 46 respondents. The variables studied were the cultural traditions and
beliefs of breastfeeding mothers regarding exclusive breastfeeding and exclusive breastfeeding
behavior. Cultural traditions and beliefs during breastfeeding are associated with exclusive
breastfeeding behavior. Data analysis shows that there is a significant relationship between
traditional cultural factors (p-value = 0.018) and beliefs/trust variables (p-value = 0.044) with
exclusive breastfeeding. In conclusion, there is a relationship between cultural factors, community
traditions and beliefs and the practice of exclusive breastfeeding. It is hoped that all sectors will be
able to overcome problems related to traditions and beliefs and support the implementation of
exclusive breastfeeding programs.
Keywords: Exclusive breastfeeding, Culture