Barbara Whelan1, John M Kearney2. 1. 1School of Health and Related Research,University of Sheffield,Regent Court,30 Regent Street,Sheffield S1 4DA,UK. 2. 2School of Biological Sciences,Dublin Institute of Technology,Dublin,Republic of Ireland.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To examine women's experience of professional support for breast-feeding and health-care professionals' experience of providing support. DESIGN: We conducted semi-structured qualitative interviews among women with experience of breast-feeding and health-care professionals with infant feeding roles. Interviews with women were designed to explore their experience of support for breast-feeding antenatally, in hospital and postnatally. Interviews with health-care professionals were designed to explore their views on their role and experience in providing breast-feeding support. Interview transcripts were analysed using content analysis and aspects of Grounded Theory. Overarching themes and categories within the two sets were identified. SETTING: Urban and suburban areas of North Dublin, Ireland. SUBJECTS: Twenty-two women all of whom had experience of breast-feeding and fifty-eight health-care professionals. RESULTS: Two overarching themes emerged and in each of these a number of categories were developed: theme 1, facilitators to breast-feeding support, within which being facilitated to breast-feed, having the right person at the right time, being discerning and breast-feeding support groups were discussed; and theme 2, barriers to breast-feeding support, within which time, conflicting information, medicalisation of breast-feeding and the role of health-care professionals in providing support for breast-feeding were discussed. CONCLUSIONS: Breast-feeding is being placed within a medical model of care in Ireland which is dependent on health-care professionals. There is a need for training around breast-feeding for all health-care professionals; however, they are limited in their support due to external barriers such as lack of time. Alternative support such as peer support workers should be provided.
OBJECTIVE: To examine women's experience of professional support for breast-feeding and health-care professionals' experience of providing support. DESIGN: We conducted semi-structured qualitative interviews among women with experience of breast-feeding and health-care professionals with infant feeding roles. Interviews with women were designed to explore their experience of support for breast-feeding antenatally, in hospital and postnatally. Interviews with health-care professionals were designed to explore their views on their role and experience in providing breast-feeding support. Interview transcripts were analysed using content analysis and aspects of Grounded Theory. Overarching themes and categories within the two sets were identified. SETTING: Urban and suburban areas of North Dublin, Ireland. SUBJECTS: Twenty-two women all of whom had experience of breast-feeding and fifty-eight health-care professionals. RESULTS: Two overarching themes emerged and in each of these a number of categories were developed: theme 1, facilitators to breast-feeding support, within which being facilitated to breast-feed, having the right person at the right time, being discerning and breast-feeding support groups were discussed; and theme 2, barriers to breast-feeding support, within which time, conflicting information, medicalisation of breast-feeding and the role of health-care professionals in providing support for breast-feeding were discussed. CONCLUSIONS: Breast-feeding is being placed within a medical model of care in Ireland which is dependent on health-care professionals. There is a need for training around breast-feeding for all health-care professionals; however, they are limited in their support due to external barriers such as lack of time. Alternative support such as peer support workers should be provided.
Entities:
Keywords:
Breast-feeding; Ireland; Mothers’ experience; Professional support
Authors: Carolina Lechosa Muñiz; José Luis Cobo Sánchez; Sara Herrera Castanedo; Elsa Cornejo Del Río; Sonia Mateo Sota; María Sáez de Adana Herrero Journal: Aten Primaria Date: 2019-09-12 Impact factor: 1.137