title: How can fathers breastfeed? Asking Ayah in Jakarta, Indonesia

authors: Rahadian, Angga Sisca

subjects: exclusive breastfeeding

abstract: Many studies have acknowledged that exclusive breastfeeding has a significant positive influence not only on babies but also on mothers, families, environments, and even nations. However, the rate of exclusive breastfeeding in the world has been low and this is also the case in Indonesia. Most studies in relation to breastfeeding focus on mothers as the influential factor for successful exclusive breastfeeding, and the variable of fathers tends to be neglected. In Indonesia, there is a fathers’ breastfeeding support community which was founded to raise breastfeeding awareness and highlight the importance of fathers’ values on breastfeeding practices. 
This qualitative study was undertaken in Jakarta and aimed to gain a better understanding of Indonesian fathers’ involvement during exclusive breastfeeding. Five main questions were addressed. Firstly, why and how fathers were involved during the exclusive breastfeeding period? Mothers’ perspective and experiences about fathers’ involvement were then explored. Then, whether fathers’ involvement in breastfeeding in Indonesia is seen as a non-traditional value and if so, how families managed it. Lastly, how the online advocacy group (Ayah ASI) for fathers could support exclusive breastfeeding.
In-depth interviews were conducted to obtain data associated with the research questions. Since fathers’ involvement, explanations and experiences were the focus of this study, the main of source of information was Indonesian fathers. Additionally, mothers’ experiences and views, particularly the perspective of the wives of the fathers who were interviewed, were also considered to gain a comprehensive understanding of the involvement of their husbands. Information was also gained from the founders of AyahASI, the breastfeeding supporting community for fathers.
Several insights were obtained by interviewing couples in Jakarta. The couples believe that exclusive breastfeeding has positive impacts on babies’ health and strengthens their bond with their mothers. In addition, religious factors encouraged fathers to support their wives to fulfill exclusive breastfeeding. The most significant findings were that fathers’ attributes influenced the success of exclusive breastfeeding and that psychological support by fathers of mothers is the most important factor in achieving exclusive breastfeeding. 

This research has revealed some important messages that should be addressed to increase exclusive breastfeeding rates in Indonesia. Even though the Government of Indonesia has released a policy to increase the exclusive breastfeeding rates, the implementation of this policy warrants further attention, for example providing more nursing rooms in public places. In addition, paternity leave should be considered as according to current regulations, the only leave available to fathers is two days. The fathers and mothers who participated in this research stressed that paternity leave was crucial in the early days after a baby’s birth to support mothers facing all the challenges in first months of their babies’ live. These recommendation are important means to enable fathers to become more involved with the care of their child. The more the fathers are involved, the more successful exclusive breastfeeding will be.

text: How can fathers breastfeed? Asking Ayah in Jakarta, Indonesia Many studies have acknowledged that exclusive breastfeeding has a significant positive influence not only on babies but also on mothers, families, environments, and even nations. However, the rate of exclusive breastfeeding in the world has been low and this is also the case in Indonesia. Most studies in relation to breastfeeding focus on mothers as the influential factor for successful exclusive breastfeeding, and the variable of fathers tends to be neglected. In Indonesia, there is a fathers’ breastfeeding support community which was founded to raise breastfeeding awareness and highlight the importance of fathers’ values on breastfeeding practices. 
This qualitative study was undertaken in Jakarta and aimed to gain a better understanding of Indonesian fathers’ involvement during exclusive breastfeeding. Five main questions were addressed. Firstly, why and how fathers were involved during the exclusive breastfeeding period? Mothers’ perspective and experiences about fathers’ involvement were then explored. Then, whether fathers’ involvement in breastfeeding in Indonesia is seen as a non-traditional value and if so, how families managed it. Lastly, how the online advocacy group (Ayah ASI) for fathers could support exclusive breastfeeding.
In-depth interviews were conducted to obtain data associated with the research questions. Since fathers’ involvement, explanations and experiences were the focus of this study, the main of source of information was Indonesian fathers. Additionally, mothers’ experiences and views, particularly the perspective of the wives of the fathers who were interviewed, were also considered to gain a comprehensive understanding of the involvement of their husbands. Information was also gained from the founders of AyahASI, the breastfeeding supporting community for fathers.
Several insights were obtained by interviewing couples in Jakarta. The couples believe that exclusive breastfeeding has positive impacts on babies’ health and strengthens their bond with their mothers. In addition, religious factors encouraged fathers to support their wives to fulfill exclusive breastfeeding. The most significant findings were that fathers’ attributes influenced the success of exclusive breastfeeding and that psychological support by fathers of mothers is the most important factor in achieving exclusive breastfeeding. 

This research has revealed some important messages that should be addressed to increase exclusive breastfeeding rates in Indonesia. Even though the Government of Indonesia has released a policy to increase the exclusive breastfeeding rates, the implementation of this policy warrants further attention, for example providing more nursing rooms in public places. In addition, paternity leave should be considered as according to current regulations, the only leave available to fathers is two days. The fathers and mothers who participated in this research stressed that paternity leave was crucial in the early days after a baby’s birth to support mothers facing all the challenges in first months of their babies’ live. These recommendation are important means to enable fathers to become more involved with the care of their child. The more the fathers are involved, the more successful exclusive breastfeeding will be.

year: 2019

title: Get out of your mind and into your life: Using a self-help book to improve wellbeing in adolescents

authors: Lisle, Nicole

abstract: Mental health concerns such as depression and anxiety are becoming increasing prevalent in an adolescent population. In New Zealand, public mental health services have long waitlists to access support from a clinician and private clinicians are often costly. This creates a barrier for many adolescents to receive support, particularly those who are experiencing subclinical concerns. There is also some evidence to suggest that many people do not benefit from traditional therapy approaches. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is an alternate to traditionally used treatment approaches such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and uses techniques such as values, acceptance and mindfulness to help improve wellbeing. Using ACT in a self-help format helps to reduce barriers for adolescents to access support. 
The overall purpose of this study was to address the question “Does the self-help book Get Out of Your Mind and Into Your Life for Teens improve wellbeing in adolescents?”. In particular, the research sought to find out i) if the book was effective in improving well-being in adolescents, ii) if there were any gender differences in outcomes and iii) understanding if adolescents found the book useful by evaluating if it was easy to work through and relevant to them. Participants were between the ages of 16 and 18 years (N=16, average age= 16.6), with nine females and six males. A total of 14 participants completed the intervention. The study was conducted using a multiple baseline design. Participants completed a battery of questionnaires which focused on wellbeing and ACT techniques at 4 time points (before the baseline period, after a two week wait before they began the intervention, on completion of the intervention and at a two month follow up), specific areas assessed by the questionnaires were depression, anxiety, strengths and difficulties, thought control, acceptance and mindfulness. During the intervention period, participants worked through the book and engaged in weekly meetings. Participants also filled out a number of questionnaires specific to wellbeing and ACT at four time points. When the group data as well as individual change scores were analysed, statistically significant improvements were found for depression, thought control and acceptance. There were no gender differences in response to the intervention. The majority of participants felt that the intervention was relevant and useful. They also reported that they were able to use some of the skills from the intervention in their everyday lives. These findings indicate that this intervention was effective for improving general wellbeing with adolescents who are experiencing sub-clinical levels of distress. Furthermore, it demonstrates that adolescents were able to learn ACT based techniques from the self-help book and that they found the book useful and relevant. In conclusion, this study has shown that ACT based self-help interventions may be used as an alternative and cost-effective method of offering support to adolescents. It also shows that adolescents will engage in this type of intervention and can use the techniques they learn in their everyday lives. This information will hopefully be of use to professionals who work with adolescents who are experiencing mental health concerns.

text: Get out of your mind and into your life: Using a self-help book to improve wellbeing in adolescents Mental health concerns such as depression and anxiety are becoming increasing prevalent in an adolescent population. In New Zealand, public mental health services have long waitlists to access support from a clinician and private clinicians are often costly. This creates a barrier for many adolescents to receive support, particularly those who are experiencing subclinical concerns. There is also some evidence to suggest that many people do not benefit from traditional therapy approaches. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is an alternate to traditionally used treatment approaches such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and uses techniques such as values, acceptance and mindfulness to help improve wellbeing. Using ACT in a self-help format helps to reduce barriers for adolescents to access support. 
The overall purpose of this study was to address the question “Does the self-help book Get Out of Your Mind and Into Your Life for Teens improve wellbeing in adolescents?”. In particular, the research sought to find out i) if the book was effective in improving well-being in adolescents, ii) if there were any gender differences in outcomes and iii) understanding if adolescents found the book useful by evaluating if it was easy to work through and relevant to them. Participants were between the ages of 16 and 18 years (N=16, average age= 16.6), with nine females and six males. A total of 14 participants completed the intervention. The study was conducted using a multiple baseline design. Participants completed a battery of questionnaires which focused on wellbeing and ACT techniques at 4 time points (before the baseline period, after a two week wait before they began the intervention, on completion of the intervention and at a two month follow up), specific areas assessed by the questionnaires were depression, anxiety, strengths and difficulties, thought control, acceptance and mindfulness. During the intervention period, participants worked through the book and engaged in weekly meetings. Participants also filled out a number of questionnaires specific to wellbeing and ACT at four time points. When the group data as well as individual change scores were analysed, statistically significant improvements were found for depression, thought control and acceptance. There were no gender differences in response to the intervention. The majority of participants felt that the intervention was relevant and useful. They also reported that they were able to use some of the skills from the intervention in their everyday lives. These findings indicate that this intervention was effective for improving general wellbeing with adolescents who are experiencing sub-clinical levels of distress. Furthermore, it demonstrates that adolescents were able to learn ACT based techniques from the self-help book and that they found the book useful and relevant. In conclusion, this study has shown that ACT based self-help interventions may be used as an alternative and cost-effective method of offering support to adolescents. It also shows that adolescents will engage in this type of intervention and can use the techniques they learn in their everyday lives. This information will hopefully be of use to professionals who work with adolescents who are experiencing mental health concerns.

year: 2019

title: Whanaungatanga: an illustration of the importance of cultural context

authors: McNatty, William

subjects: Te reo Māori

abstract: The word 'whanaungatanga' is often used by people who lack an intimate understanding of the philosophical base in Māori culture out of which it emerges. Thus, it is sometimes used simply to describe the camaraderie that can be associated with team sports or with reference to the 'glue' that connects people to one another socially. This is not necessarily a problem in itself. After all, change and development in the lexicon is a characteristic of living languages. However, real problems can emerge where words become divorced from their cultural roots to such an extent that two speakers using the same word can completely fail to understand one another. It is argued here that this is what can happen when Māori words, such as 'whanaungatanga', are used in the context of modelling in the social sciences, particularly where that modelling is conducted in the context of Western social and cultural values. In particular, the essential spiritual dimension of whanaungatanga may be overlooked or misunderstood.

text: Whanaungatanga: an illustration of the importance of cultural context The word 'whanaungatanga' is often used by people who lack an intimate understanding of the philosophical base in Māori culture out of which it emerges. Thus, it is sometimes used simply to describe the camaraderie that can be associated with team sports or with reference to the 'glue' that connects people to one another socially. This is not necessarily a problem in itself. After all, change and development in the lexicon is a characteristic of living languages. However, real problems can emerge where words become divorced from their cultural roots to such an extent that two speakers using the same word can completely fail to understand one another. It is argued here that this is what can happen when Māori words, such as 'whanaungatanga', are used in the context of modelling in the social sciences, particularly where that modelling is conducted in the context of Western social and cultural values. In particular, the essential spiritual dimension of whanaungatanga may be overlooked or misunderstood.

year: 2002-02