Breastfeeding, Food Security, and Traditional Medicine in the Mazahua Otomi community, Mexico

Background: Breastfeeding (BF) improves food security (FS) in underprivileged and Indigenous communities and strongly correlates with midwifery practice. This paper examines the generational history of breastfeeding in the resilient and culturally diverse Mazahua Otomi (MO) community and its relationship to midwifery, traditional herbalism, and food security. Research Aim: To analyze the time of generational breastfeeding (BF) and relate it to midwifery, traditional herbalism, and food security. Methods: A structured survey, conducted under the esteemed auspices of the Intercultural University of the State of Mexico (UIEM), was administered to the students, their mothers, and their paternal and maternal grandmothers, ensuring the reliability and quality of the data collected. Results: In three generations, the lactation period has been 13.73 months, which is above the national average and has remained constant. Births by midwives have decreased at a rate of 35%, and there is a surplus of 16% more births by midwives compared to the mestizo community. 55% of the MO community perceive that through BF, there is a saving to the family economy of between 50% and 100%. Conclusion: This study's findings underscore the substantial contribution of MO's breastfeeding practices, midwifery, and use of medicinal plants to FS in the first 13 months of infants' lives. This is particularly significant regarding the accessibility of food and herbal resources, providing crucial insights for future research and policy development.