While there is quite a bit of research exploring breastfeeding rates around the world, to date there have been no cultural comparisons of breastfeeding behaviours. For instance, breastfeeding is normal, and expected, in low-income countries such as Cambodia. On the flip side, it is not the cultural norm in many high-income countries like Canada, where substitutes like infant formula are more commonly fed to infants. Given the cultural, economic, and social differences between Canada and Cambodia, we saw a cross-cultural comparison of breastfeeding behaviours as a potential opportunity to share ‘lessons learned’ between both countries that could fill a gap in our knowledge of breastfeeding globally. To do this, we’re video-record breastfeeding sessions to look at mother and infant behaviours.

We’ve collected video recordings of mother-infant pairs breastfeeding in rural Kampong Thom, Cambodia and in Nova Scotia, Canada. We’re current analyzing the data, so be sure to check back here in the coming months as we share the results.