Use of new technologies and promotion of breastfeeding: integrative literature review

Abstract

Objective: To identify the most used social networks and the most consumed contents by women seeking support and further understanding of breastfeeding/breast milk. Data source: An integrative literature review was performed using the Psychology & Behavioral Sciences Collection, MEDLINE Complete, CINAHL Complete, MedicLatina, Academic Search Complete and ERIC databases. The search was conducted in April, 2020. The inclusion criteria were: publications in Portuguese, English or Spanish with several keywords, such as “Breastfeeding”, “Social Networking”, “Social Media”, “Breastfeeding Promotion”, in the title and in the abstract, with the combination of the Boolean operators “AND” and “OR”, in original articles of primary source, which were available in full text and were published between 2015 and 2020. Data synthesis: Out of the 93 articles that were first examined, 10 were used in the descriptive summary. Studies from the United States, Sweden, New Zealand, Brazil, Australia, Indonesia, and Switzerland were included in the review. Women were found to use several social networks, which is facilitated by an easy access to the Internet and to its content through several electronic resources, often using more than one device simultaneously. Most issues were universally recognized as some of the most common reasons for interrupting breastfeeding. Conclusions: The analyzed studies show that women seek to clarify their doubts outside the traditional health services’ environment, using Facebook, apps, websites, online videos, podcasts and e-mail. We stress the importance of these support groups for promoting breastfeeding and the need for health professionals to introduce themselves in social networks to reach mothers.

Text Messages Validation and Adaptation for Breastfeeding Promotion

“…(16). Similar conclusions were found by Garcia et al who, in their research, identified how new technologies and social media help women to clear doubts of traditional health services, promote breastfeeding and create new areas to get in touch with mothers (17).…”

Atuação Das Enfermeiras Na Promoção E Apoio Ao Aleitamento Materno No Pré-Natal: Revisão Integrativa

“…Corroborando com práticas inovadoras, um estudo de revisão integrativa sobre amamentação identificou a utilização de redes sociais como alternativa à abordagem em consultório, desde que as informações sejam pautadas na ciência e clinicamente sólidas. As redes sociais emergiram como meio para a disseminação de informações, como forma de partilhar as experiências, sendo um meio de fácil acesso de informação, de socialização com outras mulheres envolvendo desde ajuda emocional até encorajamento (18) .…”

“…Ainda, o estabelecimento de atividades educativas não só com a gestante, mas com sua rede de apoio (mãe, sogra, irmã, etc) emergiu como relevante, devido serem fontes de influência sobre a adesão ao AM (18) . Nesta mesma linha observa-se a partir dos achados deste estudo incremento de práticas de educação ampliada com envolvimento da gestante e rede de apoio que culminaram no esclarecimento de dúvidas, na desconstrução de mitos e crenças sobre amamentação (11) .…”

Innovations in Breastfeeding Support

“…Moreover, social media is a useful platform for new or expecting mothers to socialize and gain emotional support from peers. 54 Given the flexibility and convenience modern technology provides, person-centered technological innovations may be an optimal solution to address gaps in care. However, the $55 billion formula industry invests money into deceitful and exploitive apps, social media profiles, and peer support groups that endorse and advertise formula usage.…”

“…NewMomHealth.com/SaludMadre.com are free websites designed by researchers, clinicians, and mothers that contains information and resources on a variety of postpartum domains including breastfeeding. Moreover, social media is a useful platform for new or expecting mothers to socialize and gain emotional support from peers 54. Given the flexibility and convenience modern technology provides, person-centered technological innovations may be an optimal solution to address gaps in care.…”