Views and experience of breastfeeding in public: A qualitative systematic review

Grant, Aimee ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7205-5869, Pell, Bethan ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0786-6339, Copeland, Lauren ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0387-9607, Brown, Amy, Ellis, Rebecca, Morris, Delyth ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8529-1270, Williams, Denitza ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2874-9270 and Phillips, Rhiannon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4256-4598 2022. Views and experience of breastfeeding in public: A qualitative systematic review. Maternal and Child Nutrition 18 (4) , e13407. 10.1111/mcn.13407

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Abstract

Breastfeeding rates in many Global North countries are low. Qualitative research highlights that breastfeeding in public is a particular challenge, despite mothers often having the legal right to do so. To identify barriers and facilitators, we systematically searched the qualitative research from Organisation for Economic Co‐operation and Development countries relating to breastfeeding in public spaces from 2007 to 2021. Data were analysed using the Thematic Synthesis technique. The review was registered with PROSPERO (registration number: CRD42017081504). Database searching identified 3570 unique records. In total, 74 papers, theses, or book chapters, relating to 71 studies, were included, accounting for over 17,000 mothers. Overall, data quality was high. Our analysis identified that five core factors influenced mothers' thought processes and their breastfeeding in public behaviour: legal system; structural (in)equality; knowledge; beliefs and the social environment. Macro‐level factors relating to legislation and inequality urgently require redress if breastfeeding rates are to be increased. Widespread culture change is also required to enhance knowledge, change hostile beliefs and thus the social environment in which mother/infant dyads exist. In particular, the sexualisation of breasts, disgust narratives and lack of exposure among observers to baby‐led infant feeding patterns resulted in beliefs which created a stigmatising environment. In this context, many mothers felt unable to breastfeed in public; those who breastfed outside the home were usually highly self‐aware, attempting to reduce their exposure to conflict. Evidence‐based theoretically informed interventions to remove barriers to breastfeeding in public are urgently required.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Published Online
Status:	Published
Schools:	Social Sciences (Includes Criminology and Education) Medicine Academic & Student Support Service Development and Evaluation of Complex Interventions for Public Health Improvement (DECIPHer) Centre for Trials Research (CNTRR)
Additional Information:	License information from Publisher: LICENSE 1: URL: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Publisher:	Wiley Open Access
ISSN:	1740-8695
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	2 August 2022
Date of Acceptance:	24 June 2022
Last Modified:	02 May 2023 17:59
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/151623

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