Barriers and Facilitators for Exclusive Breastfeeding in Women’s Biopsychosocial Spheres According to Primary Care Midwives in Tenerife (Canary Islands, Spain)

Abstract

(1) The objective of our study is to determine, from a primary care midwife’s perspective, which biopsychosocial factors can favour or be detrimental to exclusive breast feeding. (2) The study was carried out in Tenerife (Canary Islands, Spain) and is based on qualitative methodology. Twenty in-depth interviews were carried out with midwives working in primary care centres in Tenerife, using a content analysis approach. The transcript data was then encoded following an inductive approach. (3) According to the perceptions of the primary care midwives who were interviewed, the barriers and facilitators that influence exclusive breastfeeding related to the biopsychosocial spheres of women are, at an individual level, the physical and emotional aspects during the postnatal period; at the relationship level, the presence or not of support from the close family and partner; at the community level, the environment and social networks the new mothers may have; and at the work level, characteristics of jobs and early return to work. (4) The findings of our research can help healthcare professionals to approach the promotion and encouragement of exclusive breast feeding at each of the levels studied, with the aim of increasing rates following recommendations issued by The World Health Organization.

Perceived facilitating and hindering factors to exclusive breastfeeding among Latin American immigrant women living in Colmenar Viejo (Community of Madrid, Spain)

“…Literature shows that both non‐migrant Latin American and Spanish mothers may feel poorly supported by their families or health system and, eventually, detect lack of preparation in health professionals. They describe EBF as a complex process, especially during postpartum (sometimes satisfactory, sometimes stressful, and uncertain), involving abandonment of responsibilities, with unsightly and painful physical consequences (Bassi et al., 2017; Bigman, 2016; Díaz‐Gómez et al., 2016; Gallardo, 2015; Llorente‐Pulido et al., 2021; Mateus & Cabrera, 2019; Pereira et al., 2019). Spanish and Latin American mothers living in Spain perceive a stressful social pressure for the maintenance of BF and the difficulty of BF in public spaces (Ausona, 2015; Boero, 2017; Scott et al., 2015).…”

Barriers and Facilitators for Exclusive Breastfeeding within the Health System and Public Policies from In-Depth Interviews to Primary Care Midwives in Tenerife (Canary Islands, Spain)

“…The materials and methods as well as the research conceptual framework presented here have already been published elsewhere [ 23 ]. The conceptual framework is represented in Figure 1 and is adapted from the Ecological Model of Bronfenbrenner [ 28 ], where the different levels that affect EBF are indicated, together with the results obtained per level.…”

“…In the present article, we present the results related to the last two categories (in blue): health system and policies. Figure adapted from Llorente-Pulido et al 2021 (in grey) and adaptation of Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Model [ 23 , 28 ].…”

“…The factors that influence the establishment of EBF interact at different levels which constitute a complex reality. Previous work by the authors of this study showed the insights of Primary Care midwives in relation to the barriers and facilitators of EBF within the women’s biopsychosocial spheres [ 23 ]. This article aims to complete these results.…”

Breastfeeding, pregnancy, medicines, neurodevelopment, and population databases: the information desert

“…Breastfeeding Breastfeeding requires an optimal biopsychosocial milieu [45]. Socioeconomic status (SES) glossary , cultural norms, availability of infant formula, and maternal intention are important, but the impact of prescribed medicines on breastfeeding should not be overlooked [46].…”