BREASTFEEDING SUPPORT: MATERNAL EXPERIENCES AND KEY BARRIERS (BASED ON A SURVEY OF WOMEN)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.11603/1681-2786.2026.2.16412Keywords:
breastfeeding; public health; maternal and child health; healthcare institutions; lactation counseling.Abstract
Objective. To analyze women’s experience of interaction with the healthcare system regarding breastfeeding, assess the quality of medical counseling on lactation, and identify the main barriers influencing the choice of infant feeding method. Materials and methods. The study was based on the results of an anonymous online survey of 435 women with a child under 5 years of age. The research employed questionnaire-based, statistical, and analytical methods. The level of satisfaction with medical services, sources of information on breastfeeding, and the prevalence of for- mula feeding without medical indications were analyzed. Results and discussion. It was found that only 42.1% of mothers practiced exclusive breastfeeding, while the majority switched to mixed or formula feeding. The main determinants of feeding choice were personal beliefs, perceived insufficient milk supply, and recommendations from healthcare professionals. Although 77.5% of women considered the information received during pregnancy sufficient, only half received counseling in maternity facilities, and only one-third consulted specialized lactation consultants. A moderate level of satisfaction with medical support was identified (mean score 3.37), with nearly one-quarter of mothers rating it as low. Of particular concern is that more than half of women received recommendations for formula supplementation without medical indications. Only one in four respondents considered breastfeeding support in their region to be sufficient, indicating systemic gaps. Conclusions. The effectiveness of the healthcare system in supporting breastfeeding is insufficient. The choice of feeding method is influenced by both personal beliefs and healthcare professionals, while a significant proportion of women do not receive adequate counseling. A moderate and variable level of satisfaction with medical support was observed. The findings highlight the need to strengthen systemic support for breastfeeding.
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