“If the Nipple Cracked in a Cross, the Breastmilk Will Be Poisonous”: The Barrier to Exclusive Breastfeeding in Indonesia’s Islands Area

Successful exclusive breastfeeding enhances sensory and cognitive capabilities and protects children against infectious and chronic ailments. Children’s growth and development are adversely affected by inadequate neonate feeding practices. The study aims to explore the barrier to exclusive breastfeeding in the Indonesia’s Islands area. This was a qualitative study using a thematic data analysis. Focus group discussions and interviews were conducted with community leaders, senior citizens, breastfeeding mothers, pregnant mothers, health cadres, midwives, nutritionists, health officers, religious leaders, and traditional birth attendants. The study highlights three main themes that categorize the barrier to exclusive breastfeeding in Indonesia’s Islands. The first theme is the belief barrier, including the perception of the form and size of the nipples related to breastfeeding quality, religion-related traditions toward newborns, and perception of milk adequacy. The second theme related to the physiological barrier, which covered the physical condition of the breasts and the lack of milk production. The third theme is a sociological barrier associated with the working mother’s status, the child born out of wedlock, and the influence of the older family members. Identifying specific barriers within communities enables health workers to create targeted health promotion strategies, thereby enhancing the coverage and effectiveness of exclusive breastfeeding initiatives.