July/Sept 2023 – ACRES facilitated a deliberative citizen panel, where all sessions were conducted in interactive plenary format in Luganda, the predominant language in Kampala. This approach fostered an inclusive environment, promoting active participation and engagement among participants. Through this participatory plenary approach, ACRES effectively captured participants’ insights, opinions, knowledge, and personal experiences regarding the challenges mothers face while breastfeeding, as well as potential solutions to address these challenges.
Outcomes of the citizen panel discussions
Mothers mentioned lack of or limited knowledge on how to breastfeed their babies especially how to latch the baby, as well as lack of support from their husbands in terms emotional and financial support as the main challenges to breastfeeding.
Mothers emphasized that the difficulties faced during breastfeeding are not limited to the postpartum period but also extend to the prenatal and labor stages.
Despite these challenges, the mothers expressed a strong commitment to continue breastfeeding and did not consider giving up as an option.
ACRES employed visual illustrations to stimulate engagement and facilitate meaningful discussions among participants during the citizen panel deliberations. By leveraging the power of visual aids, ACRES effectively conveyed complex ideas, encouraged active participation, and fostered a deeper understanding of the topics under discussion.
Challenges
