International Breastfeeding Journal最新文献

Background: Exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) contributes significantly to the physical and psychological health of both mothers and infants. Social support is a critical factor in maintaining EBF. However, there is a lack of validated instruments to assess the level of social support for EBF in China. To address this gap, this study aimed to translate the Exclusive Breastfeeding Social Support Scale (EBFSS) into Chinese and evaluate its reliability and validity.

Methods: The EBFSS was translated using the Brislin method and cross-culturally adapted. An expert panel review and a pre-survey were conducted to finalize the Chinese version. This cross-sectional study recruited 479 exclusively breastfeeding mothers between January and April 2025 through convenience sampling at four community hospitals in Hefei City. Validity was assessed using content validity, construct validity, convergent validity, discriminant validity, and criterion-related validity. Reliability was evaluated using Cronbach's α coefficient, McDonald's ω coefficient, split-half reliability, and test-retest reliability.

Results: The Chinese version of the EBFSS consisted of 16 items across three dimensions: emotional, informational, and instrumental support. A total of 29 incomplete questionnaires were excluded, resulting in 450 valid responses for psychometric testing. The content validity of the items and scale levels ranged from 0.800 to 1.000 and 0.988, respectively; exploratory factor analysis (EFA) extracted three common factors with a cumulative variance contribution of 69.539%; confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) showed a good model fit (χ²/DF = 1.914, RMSEA = 0.064, CFI = 0.960, GFI = 0.907, TLI = 0.952, IFI = 0.960, TLI = 0.952). Correlation-related validity was 0.857 (p < 0.001). Cronbach's α coefficient was 0.931, McDonald's ω coefficient was 0.929, test-retest reliability was 0.936, and split-half reliability was 0.882.

Conclusion: The Chinese version of the EBFSS demonstrates good reliability and validity and can be used to assess social support among mothers who exclusively breastfeed. This tool provides a scientific foundation for future study and targeted interventions aimed at improving EBF outcomes in China.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic caused a dramatic shift in maternal health care and lactation services. For Black women, the lack of accessibility during the pandemic may have potentially increased existing barriers and impacted breastfeeding behaviors. The objective of this qualitative study is to explore the experiences and accounts of Black breastfeeding mothers in Tennessee during the COVID-19 global pandemic.

Methods: A convenience sample method was used to recruit mothers who self-identified as Black through social media platforms to participate in a survey focusing on facilitators and barriers which impact breastfeeding behaviors. Eligibility criteria included being 18 years or older and residing in Tennessee, USA during their most recent birth. An online survey was distributed and was accessible to potential participants from June-August 2021. The survey was comprised of both quantifiable and qualitative questions. Qualitative responses pertaining to breastfeeding experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic were transcribed and coded using NVIVO analysis software. Similar codes were grouped together to create themes.

Results: For this study, the study population includes only those who reported that they were breastfeeding during the COVID-19 pandemic and provided a qualitative response to the question, "Is there anything you would like to share about your experience breastfeeding during COVID-19?" (N = 27). The average age of participants was 33 years old, 67% were married and a large percentage (63%) were multiparous mothers. From the qualitative responses, three themes were identified: (1) breastfeeding benefits, (2) pandemic experiences, (3) perseverance/determination. One subtheme, coronavirus protection, was also identified.

Conclusion: This study sheds light on the experiences of Black breastfeeding mothers and their resilience to overcome breastfeeding challenges during a global pandemic. Moreover, it signifies how adequate breastfeeding education and support can facilitate positive breastfeeding behaviors. These findings can inform research efforts and initiatives to better support Black mothers on their breastfeeding journeys, particularly in times of health emergencies.

Background: The World Health Organization recommends immediate breastfeeding (putting the child to the breast within one hour) after birth and exclusive breastfeeding to give the newborn a healthy start. This paper examined breastfeeding knowledge and practices in two urban slums in Accra, Ghana.

Methods: The data used for this paper comes from a concurrent mixed -methods cross - sectional study conducted from January-June, 2020. The quantitative survey was conducted among 279 randomly sampled mothers aged 15-49 years with neonates 0-28 days old. 14 focus group discussions and 13 in-depth interviews were conducted with women of reproductive age with newborns aged 0-28 days, slum based traditional birth attendants, care givers, community leaders, and public health managers purposively sampled. Descriptive analyses was conducted to describe breastfeeding practices. Bivariate and multiple logistic regression analyses were used to assess factors associated with breastfeeding. Qualitative interviews were tape-recorded, transcribed, coded, and analyzed thematically.

Results: Overall, only 47.1% (131/279) of mothers'-initiated breastfeeding within the first hour after delivery. Pre -lacteal feeding within the first three days and twenty-eight days was low at 16.8% (47/279). Mode of delivery was significantly associated with the type of pre-lacteals given to newborns in the first three days (p = 0.002) and the first 28 days (p = 0.001) after birth. About 94% (258/273) of mothers surveyed demonstrated poor breastfeeding knowledge and skills in positioning and attachment. The desire to maintain a positive body image among younger mothers affected the duration of breastfeeding. Several myths and misconceptions affect mothers' self-efficacy to successfully breastfeed. Mothers of newborns who initiated breastfeeding for the first time within an hour after birth and between 1 and 3 h after birth (AOR: 3.16, 95% CI: 1.08,9.27) were less likely to report illness in their newborns compared to those that initiated breastfeeding 4 h or more (AOR: 5.02, 95% CI: 1.49,16.87) after delivery.

Conclusion: Breastfeeding in Ghana's urban slums is suboptimal. A combination of demographic, socio-cultural, and behavioural factors affect optimal breastfeeding in the slums. Improving timely initiation and exclusive breastfeeding in Ghana's urban slums requires addressing these modifiable socio- behavioural variables and strengthening ANC services.

Background: Insufficient breast milk supply (IBMS) is a critical challenge to achieving optimal breastfeeding outcomes worldwide. While Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)-based acupressure has demonstrated promise for lactation, its clinical effectiveness remains insufficiently explored. This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of self-administered acupressure (SAA) as a non-pharmacological intervention for IBMS and its longitudinal effects on breastfeeding outcomes.

Methods: This six-month randomized controlled trial (RCT) will enroll 184 postpartum women experiencing IBMS from the Department of Obstetrics at West China Second University Hospital. Participants will be randomly assigned to either an intervention group receiving daily SAA targeting three acupoints (Danzhong, Rugen, and Shaoze) performed 3 times per day for 10-15 min each session, or a control group receiving routine postpartum care. The primary outcome is the exclusive breastfeeding rate. Secondary outcomes include mother-infant attachment, postpartum depression, breastfeeding self-efficacy, infant feeding attitude, and maternal parenting confidence. Outcome assessments will be conducted at hospital discharge, and at 14 days, 42 days, 3 months, and 6 months postpartum. In addition, breast milk samples will be collected from 30 participants in each group at 14 days postpartum to analyze lactation-related hormonal biomarkers.

Discussion: This trial will provide high-quality evidence on the clinical utility of SAA in managing IBMS and enhancing breastfeeding outcomes over time. By integrating psychosocial assessments with hormonal analysis, the study aims to inform the development of safe, accessible, and culturally appropriate lactation support strategies, particularly in low-resource settings. Findings may contribute to the advancement of personalized, non-invasive interventions to support sustained breastfeeding.

Trial registration: This study has been registered at Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (registration number: ChiCTR2500097270) on 17 February, 2025, and has been updated once.