Abstract
This review aimed to synthesize qualitative evidence of views and experiences of partners and other family members who provided breastfeeding support for a relative. The Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology for systematic reviews of qualitative evidence was followed. Seven databases: CINAHL, MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, Scopus, Maternal and Infant Care, and Web of Science were searched. Partners and other family members (e.g. grandmothers, siblings) of women in any countries were included. Included papers were critically appraised. The JBI meta-aggregative approach was used to analyze data and form synthesized findings. Seventy-six papers from 74 studies were included. Five synthesized findings were: (i) spectrum of family members' breastfeeding knowledge, experiences and roles; (ii) the complexity of infant feeding decision making; (iii) the controversy of breastfeeding in front of others; (iv) impact of breastfeeding on family; and (v) it takes more than just family members: support for family members. Partners' and family members' views and experiences of breastfeeding support reflected multi-faceted personal, social, financial, cultural, religious, emotional, psychological, and societal factors of the support they provided (or not). Healthcare professionals should engage them in breastfeeding discussions with the woman, and offer tailored and practical guidance relevant to help them to appropriately support the woman. This article is part of the theme issue 'Multidisciplinary perspectives on social support and maternal-child health'.
Highlights
Exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) for the first six months of an infant’s life is recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO)[1] due to its numerous health benefits to the infant and mother[2]
Four-two papers were from high-income countries (United Kingdom (UK, n=17), United States of America (USA, n=12), Canada (n=4), Sweden (n=3), Australia (n=6)); 9 from upper-middle income countries ((Indonesia (n=1), Brazil (n=5), Iran (n=2), South Africa (n=1)); 20 from low-middle income countries ((India (n=1), Pakistan (n=2), Kenya (n=3), Nigeria (n=3), Cameroon (n=1), Senegal (n=1), Cambodia (n=1), Zambia (n=1), Tanzania (n=4), Nepal (n=2), Myanmar (n=1)); and 5 from low-income countries ((Malawi (n=2), Democratic Republic of the Congo (n=1), Haiti (n=1), Rwanda (n=1))
Synthesised finding 5: It takes more than just family members: support for family members There were positive and negative experiences of support family members accessed and received from various sources including healthcare professionals (HCPs), with tailored support, information and education needed to enable family members to better support women to breastfeed
Summary
Exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) for the first six months of an infant’s life is recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO)[1] due to its numerous health benefits to the infant and mother[2]. Despite many advantages that breastfeeding offers, breastfeeding rates have remained static with only 44% of infants under six months old worldwide exclusively breastfed in 20193. Women’s partners and infants’ grandmothers, are highly influential in women’s decisions to initiate and continue breastfeeding[5,6], mainly through providing social support which is vital to functioning relationships, involving emotional, instrumental, informational, and appraisal behaviours[7]. Myer et al.[8] in this issue contributed to the understanding of impact of types of support on breastfeeding by providing evidence on associations between practical/emotional support and breastfeeding duration. As family members are known to influence breastfeeding practices, a comprehensive understanding of family members’ views on breastfeeding and supporting breastfeeding is likely key in understanding how to improve breastfeeding outcomes
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