Thin, Daw Thin2010-07-282010-07-282009-12Thin Daw Thin. Beliefs, attitudes and practices of mother regarding exclusive breast feeding in Myanmar. Myanmar Nursing and Midwifery Journal. 2009 Dec; 4(1): 34-46.http://imsear.searo.who.int/handle/123456789/127179This phenomenological research is the lived experiences of the five mothers who practiced breast feeding with Early Complementary Feeding (ECF). The study was conducted in Mingaladon Township, Yangon, Myanmar. The purposes of this study are to explore the mother's knowledge regarding ECF, to explore the mother's perception regarding ECF and to identify influencing factors to breast feeding practice of mother. A number of specific emotional problems were encountered because of traditional acceptance to feed early complementary food during Exclusive Breast Feeding (EBF), and results of their learning from close neighbors in complex nature. It is thus necessary to study the understanding and acceptance of the mothers to provide proper breast feeding including EBF with new born babies according to National Breast Feeding Policy (NBFP). Five mothers living in Mingaladon Township who had breast fed babies participated in this study. Semi-structured interview method was used to uncover the expressions of the respondents. It was found that the mothers who breast-fed gave a variety of explanations for feeding their babies early complementary food during EBF. Their beliefs, perception, and knowledge were commonly found to be influencing factors of Myanmar culture. Illnesses of the babies due to ECF were described in this study. Worries of mother regarding illness which resulted from ECF were also discovered in this study. Some mothers did not follow the health policy despite the government laid down the policy and provided Health Education. Therefore, it is recommended that breast feeding mothers have to follow NBFP under the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) and Baby Friendly Home Delivery (BFHD) for successful EBF in the world.enUniversity of Nursing, YangonBreast FeedingInfant Nutritional Physiological PhenomenaComplementary FeedingArticle