WATCH: Men in Tanzania are craving breastmilk and it's causing stunted growth in infants
Tanzanian moms are facing issues with keeping their breastmilk away from their husbands...
We recently paid tribute to World Breastfeeding Week and highlighted the varied experiences mothers go through when it comes to feeding their newborns and infants.
Little did we know that women in Tanzania and in parts of Uganda are facing another hurdle when it comes to feeding their babies breastmilk. According to superstition in these areas, breastmilk can help men with building muscle and also help them with their sexual performance.
"Believe it or not, but women from Tanzania are having trouble keeping their husbands and partners away from their babies breastmilk. A shocking report made by IOL claims that women in Tanzania’s coastal region of Tanga are complaining about the fathers of their children who are demanding to be breastfed," MSN reports.
We have heard of many things before and in South Africa we have our own communities who follow the word of superstitions, but this is now causing stunted growth in many infants in these countries and even infant morbidity.
WATCH the video below (courtesy of YouTube):
A study that was conducted in 2020 by the Kyambogo University in Kampala and Britain’s University of Kent, by Dr. Rowena Merritt and Dr. Peter Rukundo, revealed that many people believed that breastmilk can cure diseases like HIV. (MSN)
Many mothers don't have a choice in the matter and therefore have asked that government get involved and help them. Government in Tanzania has issued a stern warning to all men to stop depriving their children from the nutrients and other benefits of breastmilk. This is also linked to gender-based violence as many men go out for drinks and come home and demand to be fed breastmilk. (MSN)
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We hope that with this warning, the government takes a more active role in helping these mothers out. Because it doesn't just affect the children, but also the mothers and their mental states.
Do you believe in superstitions?
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