In Uganda (Africa) many men believe that women’s breast milk has magical powers. The same opinion is shared by the male population in some areas of Tanzania and Kenya.
About this practice, little was known until then, until the Minister of health of Uganda Sarah Opendi not broke the silence in 2018 and has not informed the Parliament about the problems faced by lactating mothers and their children.
In @KagutaMuseveni»s land, men are fighting over breasts with their kids. Dear Ugandans, this is not cool. pic.twitter.com/7wZvyCZClJ
— Fred Muvunyi (@MuvunyiF) August 10, 2018
Men requiring breast feeding, becomes in this region more and more. This fact forced the local authorities to urgently raise the issue of gender-based violence. In addition, there are concerns that feeding adult men may have a negative impact on the health and nutrition of a small child.
The reasons for the strange phenomenon and its consequences were the subject of the first study of this practice. Her study involved Kyambogo University in Kampala and the British University of Kent with the support of the Foundation for the study of global issues.
«This was a research mission. We didn’t know if we can find someone who would talk straight with us. We didn’t even really do all this or not,» commented Dr. Rowena Merritt, British specialist in behavioral research.
Little was known about the practice until Uganda»s minister of state for health, Sarah Opendi, broke the silence in parliament in 2018 and warned against “a growing culture of men demanding to suckle…”https://t.co/cRS0ftdO6V
— Linus Unah (@linusunah) January 28, 2020
As The Guardian reports, a study of the «adult breastfeeding» scientists decided to engage in rural area Buikwe (Central region), where such behaviour is widespread.
«In some communities there is a belief that breast milk has an energy and healing ability to treat diseases such as HIV, AIDS and even cancer,» said Dr. Peter Rukundo, senior lecturer at the University Kyambogo, who helped conduct the study.
The opinion of Ugandan men
Anonymous interviews conducted among local motorcyclists «Boda Boda».
One of them said, «I know what other people are doing it, but we never discuss such issues. So I would say that drinking breast milk is a common behavior, but it is not accepted in society.»
«I like the taste of breast milk, and it helps me regain health. After feeding I feel great,» said 20-year-old boy from Uganda, who has six-month-old child.
«It supports me when I come home for lunch and relieves stress in the middle of the day,» said the other man and added that he finds this process exciting.
Men believe that the requirement to breastfeeding — one of the ways to initiate sex and show their affection towards the partner.
«When I breastfeed, I feel that taking care of me like a baby, and it is addictive — says one Respondent. — I feel like Prince».
A preliminary study showed that the local men often drink before feeding the child, usually once a day, sometimes more often. The duration of feeding of husband — about 1 hour.
A female point of view
The women in this case there is no choice.
«It seems that this behavior of nursing mothers with whom we spoke, it was under duress», added Dr. Rowena Merritt.
On the question of what might happen if she refused to feed her man’s chest, one of the Respondent women said, «I’m afraid that my husband could go elsewhere if I won’t let that happen.»
The men interviewed confirmed that resistance can lead to beating women.
«She can’t say no, because you are in this moment possessed, very difficult to stop. If women say «no», it causes violence. This is a big problem», — said one of them.
This behavior is directly related to gender-based violence in Karamoja region in northeast Uganda. Dr. Peter Rukundo says that coercion in this case is a common practice.
Men drinking breast milk, regardless of the consent of the woman
Local health workers, including midwives and nutritionists, told researchers of cases where the children had to give formula because their fathers drank all the breast milk.
After this «forced feeding» women often go to the doctor with the infected or bitten nipples. There is also the risk of cross-infection infants men’s saliva.
«The locals do not know about the risks associated with such practices. But the problem is that we have no evidence of the magnitude of the problem. In this case, it is very difficult to conduct a survey,» said Rukundo.
