State of the Science for Practice to Promote Breastfeeding Success Among Young Mothers

A literature review and synthesis of qualitative and quantitative studies was conducted to evaluate the role of breastfeeding attitudes, beliefs, and support as they relate to young mothers. A search of CINAHL and PubMed was conducted for articles published from 2008–2013 using the terms breastfeeding and adolescents and duration; breastfeeding and adolescents and success; and breastfeeding and adolescents and support. Of several hundred papers identified, those articles selected for in depth review examined breastfeeding attitudes, beliefs, support, and practices. Factors contributing to breastfeeding success or failure were identified. Among them, participant descriptions reflected paradoxical factors such as: ‘breast is best’, ‘breastfeeding as not the norm’, convenience, privacy, sexuality, body image, healthcare provider support, family and peer support, and other barriers to breastfeeding. These factors were described to have both positive and negative effects on breastfeeding, at times in the same study.