Availability of breastfeeding peer-support in the UK: a cross-sectional survey

Grant, Aimee ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7205-5869, McEwen, Kirsten, Tedstone, Sally, Greene, Giles ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9326-8740, Copeland, Lauren ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0387-9607, Hunter, Billie ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8064-3609, Sanders, Julia ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5712-9989, Phillips, Rhiannon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4256-4598, Brown, Amy, Robling, Michael ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1004-036X and Paranjothy, Shantini ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0528-3121 2018. Availability of breastfeeding peer-support in the UK: a cross-sectional survey. Maternal and Child Nutrition 14 (1) , e12476. 10.1111/mcn.12476

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Abstract

Peer-support is recommended by the World Health Organisation for the initiation and continuation of breastfeeding, and this recommendation is included in UK guidance. There is a lack of information about how, when and where breastfeeding peer-support is provided in the UK. We aimed to generate an overview of how peer-support is delivered in the UK and to gain an understanding of challenges for implementation. We surveyed all UK Infant Feeding Coordinators (n=696) who were part of UK based national Infant Feeding Networks, covering 177 NHS organisations. We received 136 responses (individual response rate 19.5%), covering 102 UK NHS organisations (organisational response rate 58%). We also searched NHS organisation websites to obtain data on the presence of breastfeeding peer-support. Breastfeeding peer-support was available in 56% of areas. However, coverage within areas was variable. The provision of training and ongoing supervision, and peer-supporter roles, varied significantly between services. Around one third of respondents felt that breastfeeding peer-support services were not well integrated with NHS health services. Financial issues were commonly reported to have a negative impact on service provision. One quarter of respondents stated that breastfeeding peer-support was not accessed by mothers from poorer social backgrounds. Overall, there was marked variation in the provision of peer-support services for breastfeeding in the UK. A more robust evidence-base is urgently needed to inform guidance on the structure and provision of breastfeeding peer-support services.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Healthcare Sciences Medicine
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General) H Social Sciences > HQ The family. Marriage. Woman R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine > RA0421 Public health. Hygiene. Preventive Medicine R Medicine > RG Gynecology and obstetrics R Medicine > RT Nursing
Publisher:	Wiley-Blackwell
ISSN:	1740-8695
Funders:	NIHR HTA
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	15 May 2017
Date of Acceptance:	9 May 2017
Last Modified:	07 Nov 2024 03:00
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/100555

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