Bašková, M., Chabanová, B., Škodová, Z., Malinovská, N., and Urbanová, E. (2020) conducted a study on the promotion and support of breastfeeding within the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) programme in Slovakia. The strength of this article is that it sheds light on the effectiveness of the BFHI programme for promoting and supporting breastfeeding practices in a specific country, providing valuable insights into its implementation and impact. However, a weakness of this study is that it focuses solely on Slovakia, limiting the generalizability of the findings to other settings or cultures.
Thorpe, K., Jansen, E., Cromack, C., and Gallegos, D. (2018) investigated the impact of telephone helpline interactions on women’s breastfeeding self-efficacy. The strength of this article is that it explores the potential of a specific intervention (telephone helpline) in improving breastfeeding self-efficacy, providing practical implications for healthcare professionals. However, a weakness of this study is that it relies on self-reported measures, which may be subject to bias and may not accurately reflect actual changes in breastfeeding self-efficacy.
Kabakian-Khasholian, T., Nimer, H., Ayash, S., Nasser, F., and Nabulsi, M. (2019) conducted a qualitative study exploring women’s experiences with peer support for breastfeeding in Beirut, Lebanon. The strength of this article is that it provides in-depth understanding of the role and impact of peer support in the context of breastfeeding, offering valuable insights for designing effective breastfeeding support programs. However, a weakness is that the study focuses only on women’s experiences in Beirut, limiting the generalizability of the findings to other cultural or geographic contexts.
Alianmoghaddam, N., Phibbs, S., and Benn, C. (2018) conducted a qualitative study in New Zealand to explore the impact of family culture on exclusive breastfeeding for six months. The strength of this article is that it illuminates the influence of family culture on breastfeeding practices, helping healthcare professionals understand the importance of family support in achieving exclusive breastfeeding goals. However, a weakness of this study is that it relies on self-reported data, which may be subject to recall bias and may not accurately capture the nuances of family culture.
Pemo, K., Phillips, D., and Hutchinson, A. M. (2020) conducted a qualitative study exploring midwives’ perceptions of barriers to exclusive breastfeeding in Bhutan. The strength of this article is that it provides insights into the specific challenges faced by midwives in promoting exclusive breastfeeding in a unique cultural context, which can inform the development of tailored interventions. However, a weakness of this study is that it focuses solely on midwives’ perspectives, potentially overlooking the perspectives of other stakeholders involved in breastfeeding promotion.
In summary, these six articles provide valuable insights into various aspects of breastfeeding promotion and support. They shed light on the effectiveness of specific interventions, explore the role of peer support and family culture, and highlight the perspectives of healthcare professionals. However, some limitations, such as limited generalizability and reliance on self-reported data, should be considered when interpreting the findings. Overall, these articles contribute to the existing literature and help inform evidence-based practice change in the field of breastfeeding support and promotion.
