Burton A E, Owen A L, Taylor J, Dean S E, Cartlidge E, Wright E, Gallagher N
Staffordshire University, UK.
Staffordshire University, UK.
Appetite. 2024 Aug 1;199:107397. doi: 10.1016/j.appet.2024.107397. Epub 2024 May 10.
The United Kingdom (UK) has some of the lowest breastfeeding rates in the world, and Stoke-on-Trent has some of the lowest breastfeeding rates and highest infant mortality rates in the UK. Vicarious experience of formula feeding, formula feeding culture, and a lack of physical environments to support breastfeeding are known barriers to uptake and maintenance. Improving physical environments and increasing the visibility of breastfeeding in public would help to challenge these barriers. This research employs a participatory approach to understand the facilitators and barriers to breastfeeding in public. Nine breastfeeding peer supporters were recruited as co-researcher for a photovoice study. Co-researchers collated images of features in environments which they felt either supported or acted as a barrier to public breastfeeding. An analysis workshop was held to review the data collected and produce collaboratively agreed findings. Various environmental features were highlighted as facilitators to breastfeeding including family rooms, welcoming signage, supportive staff members, and displays of information about breastfeeding. In addition, poorly designed family rooms, lack of inclusivity within breastfeeding spaces, breastfeeding spaces within toilets and a lack of information were barriers to public breastfeeding. This research illustrates that while some environments are well designed to support breastfeeding many others are not. Environments often lack basic provision and/or make token gestures towards breastfeeding support, such as welcome signage, without providing the infrastructure needed to support breastfeeding. More education about breastfeeding friendly spaces and resources for putting this information into practice are needed for environment owners, managers, and policy makers.
英国是世界上母乳喂养率最低的国家之一，而特伦特河畔斯托克市的母乳喂养率在英国也是最低的，婴儿死亡率则最高。代乳品喂养的间接体验、代乳品喂养文化以及缺乏支持母乳喂养的物理环境，都是影响母乳喂养开始和持续进行的已知障碍。改善物理环境并提高母乳喂养在公共场所的可见度，将有助于克服这些障碍。本研究采用参与式方法，以了解在公共场所进行母乳喂养的促进因素和障碍。九名母乳喂养同伴支持者被招募为一项摄影声音研究的共同研究者。共同研究者整理了他们认为对公共场所母乳喂养起到支持作用或构成障碍的环境特征图像。举办了一次分析研讨会，以审查所收集的数据并共同得出一致的研究结果。各种环境特征被强调为母乳喂养的促进因素，包括家庭房、温馨的指示牌、支持性的工作人员以及关于母乳喂养的信息展示。此外，设计不佳的家庭房、母乳喂养空间缺乏包容性、厕所内的母乳喂养空间以及信息匮乏，都是公共场所母乳喂养的障碍。这项研究表明，虽然有些环境设计良好以支持母乳喂养，但许多其他环境并非如此。环境往往缺乏基本设施，和/或只是对母乳喂养支持做出象征性姿态，比如设置欢迎指示牌，却没有提供支持母乳喂养所需的基础设施。环境所有者、管理者和政策制定者需要接受更多关于母乳喂养友好空间的教育，以及将这些信息付诸实践的资源。
