Evidence map›Paper›PMID 28096888›Full record

ArticleInternational breastfeeding journal2016

Sociocultural factors influencing breastfeeding practices in two slums in Nairobi, Kenya.

Milka Wanjohi, Paula Griffiths, Frederick Wekesah, Peter Muriuki, Nelson Muhia, Rachel N Musoke, Hillary N Fouts, Nyovani J Madise, Elizabeth W Kimani-Murage

Open access · goldAbstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in International breastfeeding journal, 2016. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 62 papers, 5 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
62citing papers in PubMed, 5 pooled it
6.0field-weighted citation impact, top 3% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

62 citing papers in PubMed, 5 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 125 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Interventions That Support Breastfeeding for Women With Gestational Diabetes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Journal of transcultural nursing : official journal of the Transcultural Nursing Society · 2026
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  5. Nutrients · 2020
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2 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors at 5 institutions in 5 countries.

Milka WanjohiAfrican Population and Health Research Center (APHRC), Nairobi, Kenya.ORCID 0000-0001-7585-4965
Paula GriffithsCenters for Global Health and Human Development; Loughborough University, Loughborough, UK ; MRC/Wits Developmental Pathways for Health Research Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Frederick WekesahAfrican Population and Health Research Center (APHRC), Nairobi, Kenya.
Peter MuriukiAfrican Population and Health Research Center (APHRC), Nairobi, Kenya.
Nelson MuhiaAfrican Population and Health Research Center (APHRC), Nairobi, Kenya.
Rachel N MusokeDepartments of Pediatrics, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya.
Hillary N FoutsDepartment of Child and Family Studies, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, USA.
Nyovani J MadiseCenter for Global Health, Population, Poverty, and Policy University of Southampton, Southampton, UK.
Elizabeth W Kimani-MurageAfrican Population and Health Research Center (APHRC), Nairobi, Kenya.
African Population and Health Research Center · KEKnoxville College · USLoughborough University · GBUniversity of Nairobi · KEUniversity of Southampton · GB

Funding

Wellcome Trust
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundDespite numerous interventions promoting optimal breastfeeding practices in Kenya, pockets of suboptimal breastfeeding practices are documented in Kenya's urban slums. This paper describes cultural and social beliefs and practices that influence breastfeeding in two urban slums in Nairobi, Kenya.

methodsQualitative data were collected in Korogocho and Viwandani slums through 10 focus group discussions and 19 in-depth interviews with pregnant, breastfeeding women and community health volunteers and 11 key-informant interviews with community leaders. Interviews were audiotaped, transcribed verbatim, coded in NVIVO and analyzed thematically.

resultsSocial and cultural beliefs and practices that result to suboptimal breastfeeding practices were highlighted including; considering colostrum as 'dirty' or 'curdled milk', a curse 'bad omen' associated with breastfeeding while engaging in extra marital affairs, a fear of the 'evil eye' (malevolent glare which is believed to be a curse associated with witchcraft) when breastfeeding in public and breastfeeding being associated with sagging breasts. Positive social and cultural beliefs were also identified including the association of breast milk with intellectual development and good child health. The beliefs and practices were learnt mainly from spouses, close relatives and peers.

conclusionInterventions promoting behavior change with regards to breastfeeding should focus on dispelling the beliefs and practices that result to suboptimal breastfeeding practices and to build on the positive ones, while involving spouses and other family members as they are important sources of information on breastfeeding.

trial registrationISRCTN83692672: December 2013 (retrospectively registered).

Indexed as

BreastfeedingCultureKenyaSlumsSociocultural

Identifiers

PMID28096888
PMCPMC5225512
OpenAlexW2577557364

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.