Contribution of Digital Educational Technologies, Designed for Fathers, in Promoting Breastfeeding: An Integrative Review

Abstract

Objective: to analyze the contributions of digital educational technologies, designed for fathers, in promoting breastfeeding. Method: a literature review, integrative type, carried out in December 2022, after electronic consultations in the CINAHL, Web of Science, EMBASE, MEDLINE, BDENF, IBECS and LILACS databases, without restriction of language and publication time. Article selection and information extraction were performed by peers independently. Results: sample of seven articles were published between 2017 and 2022 in Australia, Canada and Ethiopia. Digital educational technologies developed for fathers were mobile apps, eHealth resources, and text messaging. These technologies contributed to improve access to information, sharing of experiences, paternal self-efficacy to support breastfeeding, knowledge and attitude about infant feeding, consequently, improving breastfeeding rates. Conclusion: digital educational technologies on breastfeeding, designed for fathers, are poorly studied. However, they are fundamental to improve paternal support in promoting breastfeeding; therefore, more research is needed for the development of other digital educational technologies for this target audience.