Breastfeeding Needs in Adolescent Mothers: A systematic review

Abstract

Adolescent mothers face numerous challenges while breastfeeding. The purpose of the study was to assess the breastfeeding needs of adolescent mothers. Two researchers independently searched the databases Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Library, SID, and Magiran. The initial search yielded 2290 studies, of which 41 were eventually included in this systematic review. Breastfeeding requirements of adolescent mothers were categorized into eight categories: 1. Social support from health care providers, partners, and families; 2. School support for breastfeeding mothers, 3. Receiving breastfeeding counseling based on cultural sensitivities, 4. Educational assistance from health providers for adolescent mothers' families 5. Changing harmful cultural values and judgments about adolescent mothers' breastfeeding, 6. Additional home or outpatient visits in the days following hospital discharge; 7. Peer support and peer counseling, 8. Economic needs.  To promote breastfeeding, policymakers and healthcare providers ought to devise specifically tailored programs and interventions to cater to the specific requirements of mothers.

Keywords: Breastfeeding; Adolescent Mothers; Infant Feeding; Need; Qualitative Study.