Table 1 Thematic questions for FGDs

• How do Syrian mothers feed their babies?

• When do they first breastfeed their babies after birth? When is complementary feeding started? How many months are babies getting breast milk? What are the types of the preferred complementary food?

• Which infant’s feeding do you recommend for the healthy growth?

• How long should a baby take breast milk for a healthy life?

• When did you start breastfeeding your youngest baby after birth? How did you feed your baby in the first three days of his/her life?

• Which infant’s feeding do you recommend for the healthy growth?

• How long should a baby take breast milk for a healthy life?

• When did you start breastfeeding your youngest baby/grandbaby after birth? How did you feed your baby/grandbaby in the first three days of his/her life?

• What are the cultural characteristics for infant feeding in Syrians society?

• What are the cultural characteristics for infant feeding in Syrians society?

• Can your child’s gender, birth order or illness affect his/her breastfeeding status?

• What is the effect of immigration from Syria on breastfeeding?

• What are the cultural characteristics for infant feeding in Syrians society?

• Can your child’s gender, birth order or illness affect his/her breastfeeding status?

•What is the effect of immigration from Syria on breastfeeding?

• What are social and family support for breastfeeding?

• Have you received support from any person (your healthcare provider / relative) about breastfeeding? What did your relatives and your husband advise you about infant feeding or breastfeeding?

• What was the impact of fathers, grandmothers and health personnel on breastfeeding?

• What are social and family support for breastfeeding?

• What is the value of breastfeeding in the Syrian culture?

• What is the value of breastfeeding in the Syrian culture?

• How can breastfeeding affect infant and maternal health?

• What is the value of breastfeeding in the Syrian culture?

• How can breastfeeding affect infant and maternal health?

• What are the barriers to the continuity of breastfeeding?

• What are the difficulties you encounter in the continuity of breastfeeding?

• What are the barriers to the continuity of breastfeeding?

• Has the corona pandemic affected childcare, and feeding type of Syrian babies?

• Has the corona pandemic affected your childcare, and the way you feed your baby?

• Has the corona pandemic affected health and feeding of your baby?

• Do you have a breastfeeding counseling certificate? If yes, are there any factors that challenge you when providing breastfeeding counseling / training to Syrian refugees unlike the local population? What are they?

• Scenario Technique: “International associations including the World Health Organization, UNICEF recommended that babies should be breastfed for at least two years; How can we achieve this with Syrian babies to breastfeed them for at least 2 years?”

• Scenario Technique: “International associations including the World Health Organization, UNICEF recommended that babies should be breastfed for at least two years; How can we achieve this with Syrian babies to breastfeed them for at least 2 years?”

• Scenario Technique: “International associations including the World Health Organization, UNICEF recommended that babies should be breastfed for at least two years; How can we achieve this with Syrian babies to breastfeed them for at least 2 years?”