Hidden Realities of Infant Feeding: Systematic Review of Qualitative Findings from Parents

Abstract

A growing, global conversation, regarding realities and challenges that parents experience today is ever-present. To understand recent parent’s attitudes, beliefs, and perceptions regarding infant feeding, we sought to systematically identify and synthesize original qualitative research findings. Following the Enhancing Transparency in Reporting the Synthesis of Qualitative Research (ENTREQ) framework, electronic databases were searched with a priori terms applied to title/abstract fields and limited to studies published in English from 2015 to 2019, inclusive. Study quality assessment was conducted using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) checklist, and thematic analyses performed. Of 73 studies meeting inclusion criteria, four major themes emerged. (1) Breastfeeding is best for an infant; (2) Distinct attitudes, beliefs, and perceptions of mothers that breastfeed, and those that could not or chose not to breastfeed, are evident; (3) Infant feeding behaviors are influenced by the socio-cultural environment of the family, and (4) Parent’s expectations of education and support addressing personal infant feeding choices from health care providers are not always met. This systematic review, guided by constructs within behavioral models and theories, provides updated findings to help inform the development of nutrition education curricula and public policy programs. Results can be applied within scale-up nutrition and behavioral education interventions that support parents during infant feeding.

Exploring Feeding Practices and Food Literacy in Parents with Young Children from Disadvantaged Areas

“…Parents were faced with multiple and conflicting sources of information. Despite being readily available, information adds to the anxiety parents face when feeding children [26,33]. Consistent with other research, parents in this study often sought feeding advice from family and followed traditional feeding practices passed on by their own parents.…”

“…For parents to achieve healthy dietary outcomes for families with children aged 0 to 5 years, there is a need to improve their food literacy skills and increase knowledge about creating positive feeding environments. Parents need educational support that addresses their personal feeding choices and ideology in a way that is easy to understand, factual, user-friendly, and culturally appropriate [ 26 ]. Parents also value social interactions with other parents; this, too, can provide learning opportunities and foster the adoption of healthy feeding practices [ 32 ].…”

“…A recent thematic synthesis of 73 qualitative studies of parents’ attitudes, beliefs, and perceptions regarding feeding in the first year of life found that family, tradition, and culture, including the social norms within the parent’s environment, had the greatest influence in shaping infant feeding behaviors. For example, when to begin complementary feeding and which foods to offer first [ 26 ].…”

The effect of maternal depressive symptoms on infant feeding practices in rural Ethiopia: community based birth cohort study

“…Sociodemographic related predictors of infant feeding practices are relatively well researched. The literature consistently show that maternal age, socio-economic status, level of education, marital status and location are associated with infant feeding practices [ 18 – 24 ]. However, research examining psychosocial predictors of IFPs are very limited.…”

The Effect of Maternal Depressive Symptoms on Infant Feeding Practices in Rural Ethiopia: Community Based Birth Cohort Study

“…Socio-demographic related predictors of infant feeding practices are relatively well researched. The literature consistently show that maternal age, socio-economic status, level of education, marital status and location are associated with infant feeding practices [18][19][20][21][22][23][24]. However, researches examining psychosocial predictors of IFPs are very limited.…”