Articles

Implementing a successful proactive telephone breastfeeding peer support intervention: volunteer recruitment, training, and intervention delivery in the RUBY randomised controlled trial

The RUBY randomised controlled trial demonstrated the benefit of proactive telephone peer support in promoting breastfeeding continuation in a setting with high breastfeeding initiation, where typically this i...

Authors: Heather A. Grimes, Helen L. McLachlan, Della A. Forster, Fiona McLardie-Hore, Kate Mortensen and Touran Shafiei

Problem-based learning for in-service training on breastfeeding in Friuli Venezia Giulia, Italy

Problem-Based Learning (PBL) is extensively used in pre- and post-graduate teaching programmes. However, it has been seldom used for in-service training and continuing medical education. We aimed to develop a ...

Authors: Emanuelle Pessa Valente, Adriano Cattaneo, Maria Vittoria Sola, Laura Travan, Sofia Quintero Romero, Mariarosa Milinco, Cinzia Decorti, Roberta Giornelli, Cinzia Braida, Patrizia Dalmin, Manuela Giangreco and Luca Ronfani

Positive breastfeeding experiences and facilitators in mothers of preterm and low birthweight infants: a meta-ethnographic review

Most qualitative research on breastfeeding the preterm or low-birthweight (LBW) infant has focused on negative insights; there are no comprehensive insights into how, when and why mothers experience positive b...

Authors: Renée Flacking, Bente Silnes Tandberg, Hannakaisa Niela-Vilén, Rakel B. Jónsdóttir, Wibke Jonas, Uwe Ewald and Gill Thomson

Making it “work”: mothers’ perceptions of workplace breastfeeding and pumping at Dutch universities

Dutch breastfeeding rates are below World Health Organization’s recommendations and targets despite the benefits for individuals and society. Increasing the rates is complex due to multiple breastfeeding deter...

Authors: Maike Hentges and Eva Pilot

Prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding practice and its association with maternal employment in Ethiopia: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Exclusive breastfeeding is defined as the practice of providing only breast milk for an infant for the first 6 months of life without the addition of any other food or water, except for vitamins, mineral suppl...

Authors: Getu Engida Wake and Yohannes Moges Mittiku

Predictors for timely initiation of breastfeeding after birth in the hospitals of Nepal- a prospective observational study

Timely initiation of breastfeeding can reduce neonatal morbidities and mortality. We aimed to study predictors for timely initiation of breastfeeding (within 1 h of birth) among neonates born in hospitals of N...

Authors: Rejina Gurung, Avinash K. Sunny, Prajwal Paudel, Pratiksha Bhattarai, Omkar Basnet, Srijana Sharma, Durgalaxmi Shrestha, Seema Sharma, Honey Malla, Dela Singh, Sangeeta Mishra and Ashish KC

Exploring women’s perceptions of pain when breastfeeding using online forums

Despite numerous benefits, many mothers stop breastfeeding soon after birth. A common reason for this is the experience of pain or discomfort. One resource which women use to share their breastfeeding challeng...

Authors: Line Caes, Katie Abbott and Sinéad Currie

Does breastfeeding protect children from COVID-19? An observational study from pediatric services in Majorca, Spain

It has been demonstrated that children who had been breastfed remain better protected against various infections, and notably respiratory tract infections, well beyond infancy. Since the role of breastfeeding ...

Authors: Sergio Verd, Jan Ramakers, Isabel Vinuela, Maria-Isabel Martin-Delgado, Aina Prohens and Ruth Díez

Feeding in the first six months of life is associated with the probability of having bronchiolitis: a cohort study in Spain

Breastfeeding is associated with lower incidence and severity of lower respiratory tract disease. However, little is known about the relationship between feeding type and breastfeeding duration with bronchioli...

Authors: Inés Gómez-Acebo, Carolina Lechosa-Muñiz, María Paz-Zulueta, Trinidad Dierssen Sotos, Jéssica Alonso-Molero, Javier Llorca and María J. Cabero-Perez

Lack of HIV RNA test result is a barrier to breastfeeding among women living with HIV in Botswana

Botswana updated its antiretroviral treatment (ART) guidelines in May 2016 to support breastfeeding for women living with HIV (WLHIV) on ART who have documented HIV RNA suppression during pregnancy.

Authors: Gloria Katuta Mayondi, Aamirah Mussa, Rebecca Zash, Sikhulile Moyo, Arielle Issacson, Modiegi Diseko, Judith Mabuta, Goabaone Mogomotsi, Eldah Dintwa, Joseph Makhema, Mompati Mmalane, Shahin Lockman, Chelsea Morroni and Roger Shapiro

Clinical characteristics of lactational breast abscess caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus: hospital-based study in China

This study aimed to identify the differences in clinical characteristics, puncture efficacy, antibiotic use, treatment duration, breastfeeding post-illness, and recurrence of patients with breast abscesses cau...

Authors: Yan Li, Xiang-jun Ma and Xiang-ping He

Prevalence and multivariable predictors of breastfeeding outcomes in the United Arab Emirates: a prospective cohort study

Despite considerable policy actions at the national and hospital levels, rates of breastfeeding in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region remain below the global average. There is a need to explore the...

Authors: Hadia Radwan, Randa Fakhry, Nick Metheny, Wegdan Baniissa, Moez Al Islam E. Faris, Reyad Shaker Obaid, Suad Al Marzooqi, Hessa Al Ghazal, Mahmoud ElHalik and Cindy-Lee Dennis

Continuing breastfeeding for at least two years after birth in rural Vietnam: prevalence and psychosocial characteristics

The World Health Organization recommends breastfeeding for at least two years (24 months or more) after birth. In Vietnam, 22% of women continue breastfeeding for at least two years. The aim of this study was ...

Authors: Hemavarni Doma, Thach Duc Tran, Tuan Tran, Sarah Hanieh, Ha Tran, Trang Nguyen, Beverley-Ann Biggs and Jane Fisher

Prelacteal feeding among infants within the first week of birth in eastern Uganda: evidence from a health facility-based cross-sectional study

Prelacteal feeding hinders early initiation of breastfeeding and exclusive breastfeeding but is understudied in Uganda. We examined the prevalence and factors associated with prelacteal feeding among postpartu...

Authors: Racheal Akello, Derrick Kimuli, Stephen Okoboi, Alimah Komuhangi and Jonathan Izudi

Breastfeeding experiences of Latina migrants living in Spain: a qualitative descriptive study

The migratory flows in Spain have changed due to the arrival of a diverse migrant population. Among the new migrants the Latino collective predominate with more than half being women of childbearing age. There...

Authors: Blanca Iglesias-Rosado and Fatima Leon-Larios

Breastfeeding and cortisol in hair in children

One of the most important protective health factors for children is breast-feeding, but the mechanisms for this effect are not fully elucidated. Our objective was to assess if the duration of breastfeeding inf...

Authors: Johnny Ludvigsson, Åshild Faresjö and Tomas Faresjö

Nurses’ and midwives’ perspectives on how the pursuit for the ‘perfect’ body image affects their own breastfeeding practices: a qualitative study in Ghana

Body image concerns have been widely documented in the literature as one reason why most women shorten the breastfeeding duration of their infants. Negative body image concerns among breastfeeding mothers may ...

Authors: Angela Kwartemaa Acheampong and Alhassan Sibdow Abukari

Socioeconomic inequalities in early initiation and exclusive breastfeeding practices in Bangladesh: findings from the 2018 demographic and health survey

Optimal breastfeeding practices including early initiation of breastfeeding and exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) are associated with positive health outcomes. Socioeconomic inequalities in key breastfeeding indic...

Authors: Michael Ekholuenetale, Sabuj Kanti Mistry, Ritesh Chimoriya, Simone Nash, Ashish M. Doyizode and Amit Arora

Familiar but neglected: identification of gaps and recommendations to close them on exclusive breastfeeding support in health facilities in Malawi

Exclusive breastfeeding is widely accepted as a key intervention with proven efficacy for improving newborn survival. Despite international commitments and targets to support and promote breastfeeding, there a...

Authors: Alinane Linda Nyondo-Mipando, Mai-Lei Woo Kinshella, Sangwani Salimu, Brandina Chiwaya, Felix Chikoti, Lusungu Chirambo, Ephrida Mwaungulu, Mwai Banda, Laura Newberry, Tamanda Hiwa, Marianne Vidler, Queen Dube, Elizabeth Molyneux, Joseph Mfutso-Bengo, David M. Goldfarb and Kondwani Kawaza

Factors associated with exclusive breastfeeding practice among mothers in nine community health centres in Nanning city, China: a cross-sectional study

The prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) is suboptimal in China. There is limited evidence of effective interventions to increase EBF in China. Therefore, it is urgent to explore the potential factors t...

Authors: Jia Li, Chen Zhao, Yan Wang, Yin P. Wang, Chun Y. Chen, Yue Huang, Ya Q. Gao, Jin Fang and Hong Zhou

Effectiveness of a smartphone-based educational intervention to improve breastfeeding

Exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) is essential during the first six months of life and confers countless benefits to mothers and infants. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of a smartphone-based educatio...

Authors: Navisa Seyyedi, Leili Rahmatnezhad, Maryam Mesgarzadeh, Hamidreza Khalkhali, Negisa Seyyedi and Bahlol Rahimi

Association of prenatal medical risk with breastfeeding outcomes up to 12 months in the All Our Families community-based birth cohort

Prenatal medical risk describes physical health issues or biological factors that predate or arise during pregnancy which heighten the risk of adverse outcomes, and often warrant specialized obstetric care. Th...

Authors: Natalie V. Scime, Amy Metcalfe, Alberto Nettel-Aguirre, Suzanne C. Tough and Kathleen H. Chaput

Prelacteal feeding practice and its associated factors among mothers having children less than 2 years of age in East Africa: a multilevel analysis of the recent demographic and health surveys

Prelacteal feeding is a major public health problem that increases the risk of morbidity and mortality in children. It also result delayed breastfeeding initiation and interferes with exclusive breastfeeding. ...

Authors: Achamyeleh Birhanu Teshale, Misganaw Gebrie Worku, Zemenu Tadesse Tessema and Getayeneh Antehunegn Tesema

A cross-sectional study of lactation room quality and Dutch working mothers’ satisfaction, perceived ease of, and perceived support for breast milk expression at work

The challenge of combining professional work and breastfeeding is a key reason why women choose not to breastfeed or to stop breastfeeding early. We posited that having access to a high-quality lactation room ...

Authors: Sjoukje A. van Dellen, Barbara Wisse, Mark P. Mobach, Casper J. Albers and Arie Dijkstra

Good practices in perinatal care and breastfeeding protection during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic: a national situation analysis among BFHI maternity hospitals in Spain

Although the positive effects of good clinical quality standards in perinatal care and breastfeeding support for women, newborns and families have been already demonstrated, many of these practices were disrup...

Authors: Barbara Muñoz-Amat, Carmen Rosa Pallás-Alonso and María-Teresa Hernández-Aguilar

One-week recall period gives a more accurate estimate of exclusive breastfeeding practice than 24-h recall among infants younger than six months of age

The World Health Organization recommends a 24-h recall period to estimate breastfeeding practice of mothers of infants aged younger than six-months. Though 24-h recall was preferred for its low recall bias and...

Authors: Sewitemariam Desalegn Andarge, Esete Habtemariam Fenta, Seifu Hagos Gebreyesus and Robel Yirgu Belachew

A mixed-methods longitudinal study of Marshallese infant feeding beliefs and experiences in the United States: a study protocol

Arkansas has the largest population of Marshallese Pacific Islanders residing in the continental United States. Marshallese are disproportionately burdened by poorer maternal and infant health outcomes. Exclus...

Authors: Britni L. Ayers, Cari A. Bogulski, Lauren Haggard-Duff, James P. Selig and Pearl A. McElfish

Administration of breast milk cell fractions to neonates with birthweight equal to or less than 1800 g: a randomized controlled trial

Most premature and very low birthweight infants cannot tolerate breast milk feeding in the first few days of life and are deprived of its benefits. This study evaluates the clinical outcomes of administering b...

Authors: Minoo Fallahi, Seyed Masoud Shafiei, Naeeme Taslimi Taleghani, Maryam Khoshnood Shariati, Shamsollah Noripour, Fatemeh Pajouhandeh, Sina Kazemian, Mahmood Hajipour and Mohammad Kazemian

Barriers and challenges of infant feeding in disasters in middle- and high-income countries

Global evidence from the past 35 years confirmed the protective effect of breastfeeding and supported the guidance to protect, promote, and support breastfeeding practices, particularly in natural disaster and...

Authors: Cindy H. Hwang, Alessandro Iellamo and Mija Ververs

Breast milk to blood lead ratios among women from the West Bank of Palestine: a cross-sectional study of associated factors

Infants fed contaminated breast milk are at an increased risk of exposure to lead. Breast milk to blood (M/B) ratios have not been investigated among women in Palestine. The aim of this study was to assess blo...

Authors: Ramzi Shawahna

Validation of the Arabic Maternal Breastfeeding Evaluation Scale (MBFES-A) among Lebanese women

Maternal satisfaction with the breastfeeding experience is an important determinant of breastfeeding success. There is currently no valid tool to measure perceived maternal satisfaction with breastfeeding in t...

Authors: Mona Nabulsi, Hanan Smaili, Hani Tamim, Marya Wahidi and Carine El-Jamal

Oropharyngeal administration of colostrum for preventing necrotizing enterocolitis and late-onset sepsis in preterm infants with gestational age ≤ 32 weeks: a pilot single-center randomized controlled trial

Oropharyngeal administration of colostrum (OAC) may provide immunoprotective and anti-inflammatory effects that potentially reduce the incidence of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) and late-onset sepsis and imp...

Authors: Xia OuYang, Chang-Yi Yang, Wen-Long Xiu, Yan-Hua Hu, Su-Su Mei and Qin Lin

The link between knowledge of the maternal diet and breastfeeding practices in mothers and health workers in Poland

There are multiple misconceptions concerning the breastfeeding mother’s diet and its adverse impact on breast milk composition and the breastfed child’s health, which might lead to breastfeeding cessation. Alt...

Authors: Karolina Karcz, Izabela Lehman and Barbara Królak-Olejnik

Correction to: Effect on breastfeeding practices of providing in-home lactation support to vulnerable women through the Canada Prenatal Nutrition Program: protocol for a pre/post intervention study

Authors: Alison Mildon, Jane Francis, Stacia Stewart, Bronwyn Underhill, Yi Man Ng, Elle Richards, Christina Rousseau, Erica Di Ruggiero, Cindy-Lee Dennis, Deborah L. O’Connor and Daniel W. Sellen

Antenatal breastmilk expression for women with diabetes in pregnancy - a feasibility study

Mothers with diabetes are less likely to achieve successful breastfeeding. Antenatal breastmilk expression (ABE) may facilitate earlier breastfeeding, but feasibility of introducing ABE and its acceptance amon...

Authors: Maren Johnsen, Claus Klingenberg, Meta Brand, Arthur Revhaug and Gunnbjørg Andreassen

Maternal and child factors associated with timely initiation of breastfeeding in sub-Saharan Africa

The probability of not breastfeeding within the first hour after delivery (timely initiation of breastfeeding) is particularly pronounced in sub-Saharan Africa. In this study, we examined the maternal and chil...

Authors: Francis Appiah, Bright Opoku Ahinkorah, Eugene Budu, Joseph Kojo Oduro, Francis Sambah, Linus Baatiema, Edward Kwabena Ameyaw and Abdul-Aziz Seidu

Psychometric properties of the original and short Hungarian version of the Iowa infant feeding attitude scale

The Iowa Infant Feeding Attitude Scale (IIFAS) is a widely used tool to assess attitudes towards infant feeding. Attitudes towards breastfeeding are one of the main influencing factors of feeding choice and br...

Authors: Renáta Ungváry, András Ittzés, Veronika Bóné and Szabolcs Török

Effectiveness of peer counseling and membership in breastfeeding support groups in promoting optimal breastfeeding behaviors in the Philippines

The prevalence of early initiation of breastfeeding and exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) at 6 months remain low in the Philippines. To help meet the 90% early initiation of breastfeeding target and to improve inf...

Authors: Ofelia P. Saniel, Veincent Christian F. Pepito and Arianna Maever L. Amit

Examining supports and barriers to breastfeeding through a socio-ecological lens: a qualitative study

Early breastfeeding cessation is a societal concern given its importance to the health of mother and child. More effective interventions are needed to increase breastfeeding duration. Prior to developing such ...

Authors: Kailey Snyder, Emily Hulse, Holly Dingman, Angie Cantrell, Corrine Hanson and Danae Dinkel

Impact of cesarean section on timely initiation of breastfeeding in Ethiopia: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Timely initiation of breastfeeding is feeding of breast milk within one hour of birth, however, three in five babies were not breastfed in the first hour of birth globally. There is evidence that cesarean sect...

Authors: Temesgen Getaneh, Ayenew Negesse, Getenet Dessie, Melaku Desta, Habtamu Temesgen, Tadesse Getu and Kihinetu Gelaye

Trends in breastfeeding practices and mothers’ experience in the French NutriNet-Santé cohort

France has one of the lowest rates in the world regarding breastfeeding initiation and duration. Few studies have explored breastfeeding practices in France since the middle of the twentieth century, or follow...

Authors: Frédéric Courtois, Sandrine Péneau, Benoît Salanave, Valentina A. Andreeva, Marie Françoise Roland-Cachera, Mathilde Touvier, Pilar Galan, Serge Hercberg and Léopold K. Fezeu

Effect on breastfeeding practices of providing in-home lactation support to vulnerable women through the Canada Prenatal Nutrition Program: protocol for a pre/post intervention study

Only one-third of Canadian infants are exclusively breastfed for the first 6 months of life as recommended. Skilled lactation support in the early postpartum period is one strategy for improving breastfeeding ...

Authors: Alison Mildon, Jane Francis, Stacia Stewart, Bronwyn Underhill, Yi Man Ng, Elle Richards, Christina Rousseau, Erica Di Ruggiero, Cindy-Lee Dennis, Deborah L. O’Connor and Daniel W. Sellen

Association between breastfeeding and preeclampsia in parous women: a case –control study

Preeclampsia is a global health problem and it is the main cause of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. Breastfeeding has been reported to be associated with lower postpartum blood pressure in wome...

Authors: Ishag Adam, Duria A. Rayis, Nadiah A. ALhabardi, Abdel B. A. Ahmed, Manal E. Sharif and Mustafa I. Elbashir

Implementing an education program for nurse-midwives focused on early essential care for breast milk expression among mothers of preterm infants

Although breastfeeding guidelines for infants admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) have been introduced in Japan, these guidelines have not been reflected in practice. To improve this situation,...

Authors: Rie Tanaka and Shigeko Horiuchi

Fathers’ experiences of feeding their extremely preterm infants in family-centred neonatal intensive care: a qualitative study

Extremely preterm infants need advanced intensive care for survival and are usually not discharged before they reach the time of expected birth. In a family-centred neonatal intensive care unit both parents ar...

Authors: Evalotte Mӧrelius, Sofia Brogren, Sandra Andersson and Siw Alehagen

Breastfeeding and employed mothers in Ethiopia: legal protection, arrangement, and support

Breastfeeding is the single, most cost-effective intervention to reduce worldwide child mortality. Women empowerment interventions have positive impacts on child and maternal nutritional, and health status. Wo...

Authors: Ermiyas Mulu Kebede and Benyam Seifu

A systematic review of qualitative research on barriers and facilitators to exclusive breastfeeding practice in sub-Saharan African countries

Studies reporting factors associated with exclusive breastfeeding are mostly quantitative. No study has performed a systematic qualitative summary to document the recurring constraints and facilitators to excl...

Authors: Izuchukwu Loveth Ejie, George Uchenna Eleje, Moriam Taiwo Chibuzor, Maureen Ugonwa Anetoh, Ifeoma Jovita Nduka, Ifeoma Blessing Umeh, Brian Onyebuchi Ogbonna and Obinna Ikechukwu Ekwunife

Is maternal cigarette or water pipe use associated with stopping breastfeeding? Evidence from the Jordan population and family health surveys 2012 and 2017–18

Maternal smoking is suspected to have negative impacts on breastfeeding, such as decreasing the quantity of breast milk, and reducing vitamin and fat concentrations in the milk in the late lactation period. Ci...

Authors: Esra Can Özalp and S. Songül Yalçın

Determinants of breastfeeding practice in Pujehun district, southern Sierra Leone: a mixed-method study

It is well established that exclusive breastfeeding can play a critical role in reducing child morbidity and mortality. Limited research has been done thus far on the practice and perceptions of breastfeeding ...

Authors: Dorothee van Breevoort, Francesca Tognon, Arne Beguin, Amara S. Ngegbai, Giovanni Putoto and Ankie van den Broek

Exclusivity of breastfeeding and body composition: learnings from the Baby-bod study

This report evaluated the breastfeeding status in a Tasmanian cohort and its effects on infant and maternal anthropometry and body composition.

Authors: Sisitha Jayasinghe, Manoja P. Herath, Jeffrey M. Beckett, Kiran D. K. Ahuja, Nuala M. Byrne and Andrew P. Hills