Be aware that just because someone is "from India" (or Pakistan, or
Bangladesh), that doesn't tell you much of anything about their cultural
beliefs.  There are literally hundreds, if not thousands, of different
cultures in India.  Some may have specific rules about not breastfeeding in
front of anyone else, others may not.  Or these different cases may be
specific to the individual.  Even in a small country, like Mali, there are
over 20 separate and distinct cultural groups, including the Bambara,
Senuofo, Bobo, Bozo, Songhrai, Tuareg, Moor, and Minianka.  Not to mention
that Bambara villagers in the southern part of the country may not share the
same beliefs as Bambara villagers in the nothern part of the country.  And
that individuals within each region will have their own idiosyncratic ideas.

It is certainly useful for LCs (and doctors and nurses, and everybody) to
have some general ideas about cultural beliefs in different regions of the
world, but culture is a complex, multi-layer phenomenon, and you can't just
assume that everybody in one country has the same beliefs and practices.
Especially not a country that is as culturally diverse as India.

Kathy Dettwyler
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