1. 'The calm in the storm': A scoping review of hospital-based peer support breastfeeding interventions
- Author
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Sandra Hoy, Jay Harrison, Amber Craig, and Ginette Lafrenière
- Subjects
scoping review, in-hospital peer breastfeeding support interventions ,Medicine - Abstract
International health bodies have called for nations to invest more in the promotion and support of breastfeeding. Peer models of breastfeeding support have shown to be an effective modality for a diversity of populations. A synthesis of in-person, peer breastfeeding support interventions in-hospital has not been done. This scoping review aimed to describe the nature and outcomes of hospital-based breastfeeding peer support reported in academic publications. The process included identifying research questions and relevant studies, selecting studies for analysis, charting data, and collating and summarizing results. We identified 24 articles for analysis, with descriptions of 12 peer breastfeeding interventions from the US and the UK. Through a qualitative content analysis of the studies, six categories emerged related to the interventions: intervention goals, theory, components, role of peers, program development and sustainability and evaluation. Most interventions were designed and implemented with a top-down approach, and utilized psychological theories of peer support. Findings from the quantitative and qualitative evaluations indicated the interventions demonstrated the capability to increase initiation, duration and exclusivity of breastfeeding. Positive psychosocial benefits were reported by mothers and positive health impacts for infants were detected. Hospital-based peer model is a promising practice that merits further implementation and study, in particular for families facing barriers to breastfeeding.
- Published
- 2021