Evaluation of environmental features that support breastfeeding: A photovoice study.

Autor: Burton AE; Staffordshire University, UK. Electronic address: amy.burton@staffs.ac.uk., Owen AL; Staffordshire University, UK., Taylor J; Staffordshire University, UK., Dean SE; Staffordshire University, UK., Cartlidge E; The Breastfeeding Network, UK., Wright E; The Breastfeeding Network, UK., Gallagher N; The Breastfeeding Network, UK.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: Appetite [Appetite] 2024 Aug 01; Vol. 199, pp. 107397. Date of Electronic Publication: 2024 May 10.
DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2024.107397
Abstrakt: The United Kingdom (UK) has some of the lowest breastfeeding rates in the world, and Stoke-on-Trent has some of the lowest breastfeeding rates and highest infant mortality rates in the UK. Vicarious experience of formula feeding, formula feeding culture, and a lack of physical environments to support breastfeeding are known barriers to uptake and maintenance. Improving physical environments and increasing the visibility of breastfeeding in public would help to challenge these barriers. This research employs a participatory approach to understand the facilitators and barriers to breastfeeding in public. Nine breastfeeding peer supporters were recruited as co-researcher for a photovoice study. Co-researchers collated images of features in environments which they felt either supported or acted as a barrier to public breastfeeding. An analysis workshop was held to review the data collected and produce collaboratively agreed findings. Various environmental features were highlighted as facilitators to breastfeeding including family rooms, welcoming signage, supportive staff members, and displays of information about breastfeeding. In addition, poorly designed family rooms, lack of inclusivity within breastfeeding spaces, breastfeeding spaces within toilets and a lack of information were barriers to public breastfeeding. This research illustrates that while some environments are well designed to support breastfeeding many others are not. Environments often lack basic provision and/or make token gestures towards breastfeeding support, such as welcome signage, without providing the infrastructure needed to support breastfeeding. More education about breastfeeding friendly spaces and resources for putting this information into practice are needed for environment owners, managers, and policy makers.
Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest AB is a peer supporter with The Breastfeeding Network. The authors declare no other declarations of interest.
(Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)
Databáze: MEDLINE
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