Breastfeeding in public ‘embarrassing’ for Gen Ys

Melbourne: A study suggests that mums and dads of the future are more likely to be against breastfeeding in the public as they find it embarrassing. The survey of Generation Y adults, who’re likely to have kids in the next five to 10 years, shows they will not be able to fully grasp the benefits of breastfeeding.

The study has sparked calls for a new campaign to promote breastfeeding as culturally acceptable. The Queensland University of Technology (QUT) surveyed 114 men and 182 women, aged between 18 and 29, online about breastfeeding. More than 50 per cent of women believed it would be uncomfortable to breastfeed in public, and a majority of men and women did not want their child to be breastfed in public for fear of embarrassment. And 75 per cent of respondents said it was unlikely their child would be exclusively breastfed for the first six months of life as recommended by the World Health Organisation. QUT Professor Rebekah Russell-Bennett said the survey showed the need for a new campaign to promote breastfeeding to young adults. “In Australia less than half of Australian infants receive any breast milk at six months and only 18 per cent were being exclusively breastfed,” the Australian quoted Prof Russell-Bennett as saying. “The study found while 34.5 percent had been exclusively breastfed for at least four to six months, only 22.6 percent were considering exclusively breastfeeding until at least six months,” she added. Prof Russell-Bennett said the study showed both young men and women did not understand the benefits of breastfeeding and perceived bottle feeding as convenient and easier. ANI