Breastfeeding challenges and the impact of social support in Iranian Muslim mothers: A cross-sectional study

ABSTRACT

Breast milk is the perfect food during infancy. Adequate support from family and health systems can be helpful to continue breastfeeding. This study aimed to determine the status of breastfeeding challenges and its relationship with social support and socio-demographic factors. In this correlational-descriptive study, 348 breastfeeding mothers were recruited using cluster random sampling from health care centers in Tabriz, Iran in 2022. Socio-demographic, breastfeeding challenges and social support questionnaires were used for data collection. Data were analyzed for descriptive and inferential statistics (Pearson correlation tests, independent t-test, one-way ANOVA and general linear model) using SPSS version 16. Difficulty in completing household tasks and breastfeeding at the same time (32.5 percent) was the most common challenge reported by mothers. There was an inverse and significant correlation between perceived social support and experiencing challenges (r = −0.199؛ p = .001). Based on the adjusted general linear model, with increasing social support, the score of breastfeeding challenges decreased (B = −0.165; 95 percent CI: −0.07–0.25, p < .001). Considering the relationship between perceived social support and the challenges experienced during breastfeeding, it can be concluded that adequate support from family along with training and guidance from health care providers can lead women to have better breastfeeding experiences and overcome breastfeeding problems.

KEYWORDS:

• Challenge
• exclusive breastfeeding
• experience
• social support

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Authors’ contributions

SS contributed to the study conception, design, data analysis, manuscript preparation, editing and review. MH contributed to the study design, data analysis, manuscript editing and review. MM performed the data analysis, manuscript preparation, editing and review. PA and MH made contributions to the conception, design, acquisition, analysis and interpretation of data and prepared the first draft. EB revised the final draft of the manuscript. All authors have read and approved the final manuscript.

Data availability statement

The datasets used and/or analyzed in the current study are available through the corresponding author for scientific use, such as replication.

Additional information

Funding

This research study was supported by the Tabriz University of Medical Sciences. The funding source was not involved in the study design, data collection, data analysis, or manuscript development.