{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,18]],"date-time":"2026-06-18T13:51:25Z","timestamp":1781790685203,"version":"3.54.5"},"reference-count":50,"publisher":"SAGE Publications","issue":"2","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,3]],"date-time":"2026-04-03T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1775174400000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/page\/policies\/text-and-data-mining-license"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["journals.sagepub.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["J Hum Lact"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2026,5]]},"abstract":"<jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Background:<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Infant health is closely linked to feeding practices, with the World Health Organization recommending exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of life. However, in some underprivileged communities in Ghana, this recommendation is not consistently followed, and traditional breastfeeding practices continue to prevail.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Research Aim:<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>This study aimed to explore the indigenous breastfeeding practices among lactating mothers in Northern Ghana.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods:<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>A qualitative descriptive design was employed, involving in-depth interviews with 15 participants who had babies younger than 6 months. All interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using thematic data analysis.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results:<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>The study revealed that many participants believed colostrum should not be given to babies, as it was considered unsuitable. Some participants perceived the breast milk of first-time mothers as bitter. Also, a common belief was that new-born babies should be given water as their first intake, and there was a consensus that introducing water and food before 6 months was acceptable. The findings highlighted that elderly women in the community play a significant role in preserving and enforcing indigenous practices among lactating mothers.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Conclusion:<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Indigenous breastfeeding practices remain widespread in rural Northern Ghana. There is a need for more robust breastfeeding campaigns to address and modify these traditional practices to align with recommended guidelines.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1177\/08903344261419354","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,3]],"date-time":"2026-04-03T11:36:31Z","timestamp":1775216191000},"page":"242-251","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/sage-journals-update-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["A Qualitative Investigation of Traditional Breastfeeding Practices Among Lactating Mothers in Northern Ghana"],"prefix":"10.1177","volume":"42","author":[{"given":"Anthony","family":"Moro","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0007-4497-8202","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Dominic Nabil","family":"Bodpii","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"University for Development Studies, Tamale, Ghana"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-6063-242X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Robert Kuchengye","family":"Mokulogo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Simon Diedong University of Business and Integrated Development Studies, Wa, Ghana"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-0261-3295","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Awinaba Amoah","family":"Adongo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Akenten Appiah-Menka University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development, Ashanti, Ghana"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Denis Dekugmen","family":"Yar","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Akenten Appiah-Menka University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development, Ashanti, Ghana"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-3259-9794","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"James","family":"Akazili","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"C. 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