Focus Paper Using qualitative research findings to analyse how breastfeeding public health recommendations can be tailored to meet the needs of women of Bangladeshi origin living in England Alison McFadden Research Fellow, Mother and Infant Research Unit, Department of Health Sciences, University of York, UK Mary J Renfrew Professor of Mother and Infant Health, Director of Mother and Infant Research Unit, Department of Health Sciences, University of York, UK Karl Atkin Professor, Department of Health Sciences, University of York, UK Abstract Breastfeeding, by improving health outcomes and life chances for women and children, is a key strategy for addressing health inequalities. National evidence-based public health recommendations for breastfeeding exist in the UK (NICE (2008) Improving the nutrition of pregnant and breastfeeding mothers and children in low-income households. NICE public health guidance 11. London: National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence). The need to tailor interventions to the needs of diverse disadvantaged population groups is an overarching principle informing these recommendations. However, there is little evidence on how to achieve such tailored services. This qualitative paper examines the breastfeeding experiences of 14 grandmothers, 23 women of Bangladeshi origin and 28 health practitioners to illuminate how public health recommendations can be modified for diverse populations. The findings suggested that while many of the women’s needs were similar to the majority population, much current breastfeeding support is not culturally sensitive. These findings were used to interrogate barriers Corresponding author: Alison McFadden PhD, Cert Ed, RM, Research Fellow, Mother and Infant Research Unit, Department of Health Sciences, Area 4 Seebohm Rowntree Building, University of York, Heslington, York YO10 5DD, UK Email: alison.mcfadden@york.ac.uk Journal of Research in Nursing 17(2) 159–178 ! The Author(s) 2012 Reprints and permissions: sagepub.co.uk/journalsPermissions.nav DOI: 10.1177/1744987111432235 jrn.sagepub.com at SAGE Publications on June 18, 2015 jrn.sagepub.com Downloaded from