Traditional and Complementary Breastfeeding and Weaning Practices Among Mothers in Northern Cyprus

The study was conducted to examine the traditional and complementary practices used by women to increase breast milk and wean their children from breastfeeding.

This is a descriptive and cross-sectional study. The population consisted of 254 mothers aged 20-45 lived in Cyprus. Mothers who had breastfed and stopped breastfeeding were included in the study. The data were collected by using an introductory information form prepared based on the literature, about breastfeeding and weaning process. Descriptive statistics were used to assess the data.

64% of the participants started breastfeeding within the first hour of birth, 58% only breastfed for the first 6 months, and 16% breastfed for 24 months or more. Also women consumed mostly water and herbal tea (mostly fennel) and bulgur to increase breast milk.

Although it was determined that mothers did not use many traditional methods when weaning their children, it was a remarkable finding that weaning by talking to the child was used less. It is recommended that education and counselling services be increased in order to increase rates of exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months, and to follow evidence-based practices at the stages of increasing breast milk and weaning.