The Meaning of Breastfeeding Experiences for Visually Impaired Mothers in Türkiye: A Qualitative Analysis.

Abstract

Background: Breastfeeding is a key component of maternal and child health, yet mothers with disabilities may encounter accessibility barriers, stigma, and inconsistent support within maternity and infant-feeding services. Evidence focusing specifically on mothers with visual impairment remains limited, particularly in non-Western contexts.

Aim: This study aimed to explore how mothers with visual impairment in Türkiye made sense of their breastfeeding experiences, including the barriers they encountered, the support they received, and the tactile and relational strategies they developed.

Methods: A qualitative study was conducted using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA). Criterion and snowball sampling were used to recruit 16 mothers with self-reported visual impairment who had breastfed at least one child. Semi-structured interviews were conducted in Turkish, either face-to-face or through secure online platforms according to participants' accessibility preferences, between July and November 2025. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using IPA.

Results: Participants were aged 32-58 years; 10 had congenital visual impairment, and six had acquired visual impairment. Four themes were developed: variable access to adapted breastfeeding support, breastfeeding through spatial uncertainty and safety-related anxiety, tactile and positional breastfeeding strategies, and differing forms of family involvement in breastfeeding and early infant care.

Conclusions: Participants' accounts showed marked variation in the accessibility of breastfeeding support. Some mothers received no adapted guidance, whereas others described hands-on professional instruction using touch to demonstrate positioning and attachment. Mothers also described safety-related uncertainty, tactile and positional strategies, and differing forms of family involvement. The findings support detailed verbal and tactile teaching, accessible information formats, and individualized breastfeeding support for mothers with visual impairment. Family involvement should support, rather than replace, the mother's own participation.