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Supporting Breastfeeding Establishment among Socially Disadvantaged Women: A Meta‐Synthesis
Author(s) -
MacVicar Sonya,
Kirkpatrick Pamela,
Humphrey Tracy,
ForbesMcKay Katrina E.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
birth
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.233
H-Index - 83
eISSN - 1523-536X
pISSN - 0730-7659
DOI - 10.1111/birt.12180
Subject(s) - breastfeeding , disadvantaged , psychological intervention , social support , psychology , population , perception , nursing , qualitative research , breast feeding , developmental psychology , critical appraisal , medicine , social psychology , environmental health , alternative medicine , pediatrics , social science , pathology , sociology , political science , law , neuroscience
Background Many women from socially disadvantaged groups discontinue breastfeeding in the early postnatal period before lactation is fully established. This suggests that existing health service practices do not adequately meet the breastfeeding support needs of this population. The aim of this meta‐synthesis is to review the literature exploring how women from socioeconomically deprived backgrounds experience breastfeeding establishment and to identify factors associated with supportive practice. Methods The meta‐synthesis includes qualitative studies exploring the perception of women from disadvantaged groups of in‐hospital and professionally led interventions to support the establishment of breastfeeding. Searches were conducted for studies published between 1992 and 2013; after critical appraisal, eight studies were retained. Results Three overarching themes of the influences on maternal perception of the efficacy of breastfeeding support were identified. These included practical skill and knowledge of the breastfeeding process, the influence of psychological factors on perceived breastfeeding ability, and the provision of a person‐centered approach to infant feeding support. Conclusions The findings illustrate that the factors associated with supportive breastfeeding practice are extensive, complex, and interrelated. Strategies which enable mothers to gain confidence in their ability to successfully breastfeed by acquiring technical expertise, which offer positive encouragement, and which are culturally specific are more likely to be perceived as supportive by women from socially disadvantaged groups.