TY - JOUR
T1 - Breastfeeding in the community—how can partners/fathers help?
T2 - A systematic review
AU - On behalf of the Global Maternal
AU - Child Health Research Collaboration (GloMACH)
AU - Ogbo, Felix Akpojene
AU - Akombi, Blessing J.
AU - Ahmed, Kedir Y.
AU - Rwabilimbo, Abdon G.
AU - Ogbo, Akorede O.
AU - Uwaibi, Noel E.
AU - Ezeh, Osita K.
AU - Agho, Kingsley E.
N1 - Funding Information:
Funding: Some aspects of this study (systematic literature search) were funded by the early career research funding grant from the Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation), Western Sydney University, obtained by Felix A. Ogbo.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.
PY - 2020/1/8
Y1 - 2020/1/8
N2 - Support from partners/fathers and families can play a significant role in a mother’s decision to initiate, continue or cease breastfeeding postnatally. This study systematically reviewed published studies to determine the impact of specific types of partner support on breastfeeding initiation, duration and exclusivity. We used the 2015 Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines for the review. Seven computerized bibliographic databases (Embase, ProQuest Central, Scopus, PsycINFO, Web of Science, MEDLINE/PubMed and CINAHL) were searched. Of a total of 695 articles retrieved from the databases, seven studies met the inclusion criteria and reported on breastfeeding initiation, duration and exclusivity. Four of the seven studies found that partner support in the form of verbal encouragement to new mothers increased breastfeeding duration and exclusivity. Other types of partner supportive actions that led to improved breastfeeding behavior included sensitivity of the partner to the nursing mother’s needs, assistance in preventing and managing breastfeeding difficulties, and helping with household and child care duties. This review showed that specific supportive actions of partners/fathers in the community positively improved breastfeeding practices. To maximise the impact of breastfeeding policies and interventions among new mothers, breastfeeding programmes should consider the involvement of partners/fathers and their specific roles.
AB - Support from partners/fathers and families can play a significant role in a mother’s decision to initiate, continue or cease breastfeeding postnatally. This study systematically reviewed published studies to determine the impact of specific types of partner support on breastfeeding initiation, duration and exclusivity. We used the 2015 Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines for the review. Seven computerized bibliographic databases (Embase, ProQuest Central, Scopus, PsycINFO, Web of Science, MEDLINE/PubMed and CINAHL) were searched. Of a total of 695 articles retrieved from the databases, seven studies met the inclusion criteria and reported on breastfeeding initiation, duration and exclusivity. Four of the seven studies found that partner support in the form of verbal encouragement to new mothers increased breastfeeding duration and exclusivity. Other types of partner supportive actions that led to improved breastfeeding behavior included sensitivity of the partner to the nursing mother’s needs, assistance in preventing and managing breastfeeding difficulties, and helping with household and child care duties. This review showed that specific supportive actions of partners/fathers in the community positively improved breastfeeding practices. To maximise the impact of breastfeeding policies and interventions among new mothers, breastfeeding programmes should consider the involvement of partners/fathers and their specific roles.
KW - Breastfeeding
KW - Impact/influence
KW - Partner/father
KW - Support
KW - Systematic review
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85077884476&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85077884476&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3390/ijerph17020413
DO - 10.3390/ijerph17020413
M3 - Review article
C2 - 31936302
AN - SCOPUS:85077884476
SN - 1661-7827
VL - 17
JO - International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
JF - International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
IS - 2
M1 - 413
ER -