Table 2 Characteristics of the included studies
From: Health professionals’ competencies regarding breastfeeding beyond 12 months: a systematic review
Author(s), year, country | Aims | Methodological approach, data collection, number of participants | Relevant findings | Themes identified from the study | JBI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. Baranowska [30] et al. (2019) Poland | To determine the level of knowledge and the attitudes of health professionals towards breastfeeding beyond 12 months; the relationship between personal breastfeeding experience and attitudes towards breastfeeding beyond 12 months; and the relationship between knowledge about breastfeeding beyond 12 months and attitudes towards it. | Cross-sectional study A one-group prospective, cross-sectional online survey N = 495, gynecologists, neonatologists, and midwives | Majority of the health professionals were not aware of the WHO recommendation of breastfeeding duration. Most of the health professionals had a low level of knowledge about the benefits of breastfeeding beyond 12 months. Health professionals thought breastfeeding beyond 12 months may indicate problems in the relationship between mother and child. Majority of the health professionals had negative or neutral attitudes towards breastfeeding beyond 12 months. | 7/11 of all themes Perceptions regarding family interaction Perceptions regarding impacts on the child’s wellbeing Perceptions regarding appropriate breastfeeding duration Perceptions regarding the breastfeeding recommendations Attitudes promoting breastfeeding Hostile attitudes Passive attitudes | 8/8a Yes: 8 No: 0 Can’t tell: 0 |
2. Cockerham-Colas [33] et al. (2012) USA | To explore the knowledge and attitudes of health professionals towards breastfeeding beyond 12 months and to pilot an educational display for health professionals to promote their knowledge and attitudes towards breastfeeding beyond 12 months. | Quasi-Experimental study Pre and post surveys, structured questionnaire N = 84, health professionals (i.e., physicians, midwives, medical residents, nursing students, public health students etc.) | In general, health professionals had negative attitudes towards breastfeeding beyond 12 months. Health professionals thought breastfeeding was less acceptable as the child got older. | 2/11 Perceptions regarding appropriate breastfeeding duration Hostile attitudes | 7/9b Yes: 7 No: 1 Can’t tell: 1 |
3. Colaceci [35] et al. (2020) Italy | To evaluate the long-term effectiveness of an online national program of infant nutrition for health professionals. | Quasi-Experimental study Data collection at three time points (T0, T1, T2) using questionnaires N = 4582, health professionals (i.e., nurses, midwives, physicians, pharmacists etc.) | Health professionals thought breastfeeding was less acceptable as the child got older. | 2/11 Perceptions regarding appropriate breastfeeding duration Perceptions regarding the breastfeeding recommendations | 7/9b Yes: 7 No: 1 Can’t tell: 1 |
4. Radaelli [29] et al. (2012) Italy | To examine attitudes and practices of family pediatricians towards infant feeding. | Cross-sectional study Online questionnaire N = 850 pediatricians | Minority of pediatricians recommended breastfeeding beyond 12 months. | 1/11 Perceptions regarding the breastfeeding recommendations | 7/8a Yes: 7 No: 1 Can’t tell: 0 |
5. Rempel, McCleary [34] (2012) Canada | To evaluate the effect of Breastfeeding Best Practice guideline implementation on health professionals’ knowledge, beliefs, and behavior regarding breastfeeding and breastfeeding promotion. | Quasi-Experimental study Pre and post surveys, structured questionnaires N = 46 public health nurses | Health professionals didn’t support the WHO recommendations of breastfeeding up to 2 years and beyond. | 2/11 Perceptions regarding appropriate breastfeeding duration Perceptions regarding the breastfeeding recommendations | 6/9b Yes: 6 No: 3 Can’t tell: 0 |
6. Zhuang [31] et al. (2020) USA | To examine the perceived advantages and disadvantages, emotional responses, and advice that healthcare students would provide to mothers regarding breastfeeding beyond 12 months. | Cross-sectional study Online open-ended questionnaire N = 116 healthcare students | Majority of the health professionals could name some of the child’s health benefits of breastfeeding beyond 12 months. General benefits, as emotional and economical, and mother’s health benefits were not as widely known. Most of the health professionals named disadvantages of breastfeeding beyond 12 months. Health professionals had predominantly negative emotions and neutral responses to breastfeeding beyond 12 months. | 10/11 Perceptions regarding nutritional value Perceptions regarding economic value Perceptions regarding family interaction Perceptions regarding impacts on the mother’s wellbeing Perceptions regarding impacts on the child’s wellbeing Perceptions regarding appropriate breastfeeding duration Counseling skills Attitudes promoting breastfeeding Hostile attitudes Passive attitudes | 5/8a Yes: 5 No: 1 Can’t tell: 2 |
7. Goldbort, Hitt, Zhuang [32] (2022) USA | To examine how extended breast- feeding is perceived among medical and nursing students and how perceptions of extended breast- feeding are translated into stigmatizing outcomes including attitudes, behavioral predispositions, and behavioral intention to encourage to stop breastfeeding. | Cross-sectional study Online close-ended qustionnaire N = 116 healthcare students | Health professionals had a lack of knowledge regarding breastfeeding beyond 12 months and increasingly negative attitudes as the child’s age increased. The intention to encourage to stop breastfeeding increased as the child got older. | 4/11 Perceptions regarding appropriate breastfeeding duration Counseling skills Attitudes promoting breastfeeding Hostile attitudes | 7/8a Yes: 7 No: 0 Can’t tell: 1 |