Breastfeeding and popular aetiology in the Sahel
Van de Walle, E.; van de Walle, F.
Health Transition Review the Cultural Social and Behavioural Determinants of Health 1(1): 69-81
1991
ISSN/ISBN: 1036-4005 PMID: 10148804 DOI: 10.2307/40608617Document Number: 316025
Two views about breastfeeding and the resumption of intercourse after a birth are found to prevail in Bamako and Bobo-Dioulasso, two cities of the Sahel region of Africa: that sexual relations may spoil the milk; and that a child should be weaned when the woman is pregnant again. Both beliefs provide a rationale to abstain, but the postpartum taboo has been greatly reduced in the area, and the second belief is the most important. 'Bad milk' serves as an explanation for many of the diarrhoeas and diseases of nutritional origin that affect infants and children. Traditional medical treatments of diarrhoea and protein calorie malnutrition are consistent with the popular aetiology. The acceptance of modern techniques of infant care in this area may well be predicated on the diffusion of an alternative model of disease causation.