Facilitators and Barriers to Exclusive Breastfeeding in Thailand: A Narrative Review

Abstract

The six months exclusive breastfeeding rate in Thailand has decreased from 15.1 % in 2009 to 12.3 % in 2013. It is important to identify what the facilitators and barriers to exclusive breastfeeding in Thailand. This narrative review aimed to identify facilitators and barriers to exclusive breastfeeding in Thailand. A narrative review was conducted by searching through the following data bases: Medline, CINAHL, Embase, Google scholar and Thai journal online between 2001 to the fourth week of September 2016. Searching terms are exclusive breastfeeding and Thailand. Inclusion criteria were that they focused on facilitators and barriers of exclusive breastfeeding - specifically relating to Thailand in all languages. Exclusion criteria were studies which not related with facilitators and barriers to exclusive breastfeeding in Thailand. Narrative data extraction was conducted, with data analyzed thematically. The result revealed that 74 studies were thematically analyzed using five identified themes: mother factor, family support, situation and social context, infant factor, and healthcare profession and healthcare service. Conclusion: The factors described in the study are corroborated by international findings. In difference context, identifying specific practical guideline based on the themes identified, in order to make suggestions amid policy planning for the promotion, protection, and support of exclusive breastfeeding in Thailand, is now in deed of exploration.