“What I Hadn’t Realized is How Difficult it is, You Know?”: Examining the Protective Factors and Barriers to Breastfeeding in the UK

• Main Author: Wagi, Cheyenne R.
• Format: Others
• Published: Scholar Commons 2019
• Subjects: Barriers; Breastfeeding; Protective factors; Social support; Stigma; Public Health; Social and Cultural Anthropology
• Online Access: https://scholarcommons.usf.edu/etd/7983; https://scholarcommons.usf.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=9180&context=etd

The international recommendation for breastfeeding is that a baby should be exclusively breastfed for six months. Breastfeeding should be continued for up to two years and beyond with complementary foods (WHO, 2016). The United Kingdom exhibits some of the lowest breastfeeding rates in the world (HSCIC, 2012). The percentage of mothers who breastfed in the United Kingdom falls below 34% at six months, with only 1% of mothers breastfeeding exclusively at this point (HSCIC, 2012:31). This study sought to examine the protective factors and barriers for breastfeeding in the UK. Mums (n=28), their partners (n=6), and facilitators at breastfeeding support services (n=3) were interviewed (n=37) to learn more about breastfeeding experiences and related factors. Mums (n=28) also completed the Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale Short-Form. Factors related to individual knowledge and beliefs, support from partners, family, and friends, clinical experiences, formal support, and stigma all played central roles in the mum’s breastfeeding experience. Efforts should be made to address these factors at community, organizational, and policy levels to improve breastfeeding in the UK.