International Breastfeeding Journal最新文献

{"title":"Determinants of breastfeeding initiation in thailand: multiple indicator cluster survey analysis.","authors":"Salila Cetthakrikul, Chompoonut Topothai, Nisachol Cetthakrikul","doi":"10.1186/s13006-025-00759-9","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13006-025-00759-9","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Early initiation of breastfeeding, defined as breastfeeding within one hour of birth, is a critical indicator of optimal infant feeding practices with substantial health benefits for mothers and infants. Early initiation of breastfeeding rates in Thailand has declined over the past decade, necessitating an investigation into the underlying determinants. Therefore, this study aimed to identify trends in early initiation of breastfeeding prevalence and examine associated factors using national survey data from Thailand.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This study analysed secondary data from four rounds of the Thailand Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS4-7), conducted in 2012 (MICS4), 2015-2015 (MICS5), 2019 (MICS6), and 2022 (MICS7), including 13,063 mothers of children under 6 months. Logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the association between geographic, socioeconomic, and maternal factors with early initiation of breastfeeding. Statistical significance was determined at 95% confidence and p-value < 0.05, and all analysis was conducted using STATA 17.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Early initiation of breastfeeding prevalence declined from 54.9% in 2012 to 43.1% in 2022. Vaginal delivery increased adjusted odds by 2.1 times (95%CI 1.59, 2.85) while non-skin-to-skin contact reduced early initiation of breastfeeding likelihood by 57% (AOR 0.43, 95%CI 0.33, 0.57). Geographic disparities emerged, with almost all regions showing higher early initiation of breastfeeding rates than Bangkok: North (AOR 2.65, 95%CI 1.49, 4.72), Northeast (AOR 2.55, 95%CI 1.49, 4.35), and South (AOR 3.26, 95%CI 1.92, 5.52). Socioeconomic status and urban or rural residence showed inconsistent associations across survey rounds.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Early initiation of breastfeeding prevalence in Thailand remains low and is off track to meet the 2030 global target of 70%. Interventions to promote vaginal delivery and ensure immediate skin-to-skin contact in all births are critical. Regional variations highlight the importance of culturally tailored strategies to support breastfeeding practices. These findings provide critical evidence for policy development to improve maternal and child health outcomes in Thailand.</p>","PeriodicalId":54266,"journal":{"name":"International Breastfeeding Journal","volume":"20 1","pages":"65"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-08-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12366044/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144884303","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Characteristics and experiences of lactating women with measured low milk production.","authors":"Theresia Margaretha Nicole Manshanden, Sarah Gallo Abelha, Joost Velzel, Jacki Louise McEachran, Donna Tracy Geddes, Sharon Lisa Perrella","doi":"10.1186/s13006-025-00753-1","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13006-025-00753-1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>This study aimed to compare the characteristics and experiences of women with measured low and normal 24 h milk production.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We analysed data from a nested case-control study of 136 participants who measured their 24 h milk production within 1-6 months of birth and completed an online survey of lactation risk factors and experiences within 2 years of birth. The study was conducted between January 2020 and March 2024. 24 h milk production, calculated as the sum of all pre-post breastfeed and expression weights, was classified as low (< 600 mL) or normal milk production (≥ 600 mL). The prevalence of anatomical, endocrine/metabolic, pregnancy, birth complications and postpartum lactation risk factors was reported. Further, the experiences of participants that reported low milk production were described.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Low milk production was measured in 39 out of 136 participants (29%). Breast hypoplasia was more prevalent in this group (low milk production 13%; normal milk production 3%; p = 0.03). Of those with measured low milk production 21% perceived production was normal. In participants with measured normal production 28% had perceived low production. Formula use was more common among those with low milk production, and their infants had significantly lower weight-for-age z-scores despite similar birth weights. Qualitative data reflected the stress and effort expended in trying to increase milk production, and 10/26 (39%) rated lactation consultant support as most helpful in managing their milk production.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Low milk production is a multifactorial and common concern, affecting nearly one in three breastfeeding women. While some contributing risk factors such as breast hypoplasia were identified, over half of the affected participants had not received an explanation from their healthcare provider. This underscores that low milk production is not always fully explainable or treatable, and highlights the need for personalized supportand further research to improve clinical assessment and effective management.</p>","PeriodicalId":54266,"journal":{"name":"International Breastfeeding Journal","volume":"20 1","pages":"64"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-08-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12358062/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144862700","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Exploring the social representations of breastfeeding among mothers and grandmothers in Uruguay using word association.","authors":"Alejandra Girona, Lucia de Pena, Hugo Cristo Sant'Anna, Gastón Ares, Rita Heck","doi":"10.1186/s13006-025-00750-4","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13006-025-00750-4","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>A comprehensive understanding of women lived experiences is crucial for developing effective strategies to support breastfeeding at both individual and systemic levels. In this context, this study aimed to explore the social representations of breastfeeding among Uruguayan mothers and grandmothers through a structural approach.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A total of 154 women, 77 mothers and 77 grandmothers, biologically related, were recruited from eight public health centers in Montevideo, Uruguay, between June and August 2022. Participants completed a free word association task using the stimuli \"breastfeeding\" and \"exclusive breastfeeding.\" Interviews were conducted by trained researchers via telephone, and participants were asked to provide 3-5 associations per term. Responses were analyzed using structural analysis with openEvoc software to identify core and peripheral elements of the social representations.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>\"Love\" emerged as the central element in the social representations of both breastfeeding and exclusive breastfeeding for mothers and grandmothers, highlighting the emotional and symbolic importance of breastfeeding across generations. Among mothers, representations were emotionally rich and experientially grounded, with frequent references to \"baby,\" \"affection,\" \"attachment,\" and health-related benefits. Mothers also acknowledged challenges such as \"pain\" and \"tiredness.\" In contrast, grandmothers' representations were more heterogeneous and less detailed, especially for exclusive breastfeeding, which lacked a clear structure. Grandmothers frequently used normative or moral terms such as \"correct,\" \"essential,\" and \"nutrition,\" and showed limited familiarity with exclusive breastfeeding as a defined concept. Health-related benefits were present in peripheral areas for both groups, while references to the mother's well-being were largely absent.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The findings highlight intergenerational continuity in the emotional anchoring of breastfeeding but reveal differences in knowledge and cognitive engagement, particularly concerning exclusive breastfeeding. While mothers integrate biomedical and experiential dimensions, grandmothers rely more on traditional values. These results underscore the need for generationally tailored communication strategies that acknowledge emotional and practical experiences and actively involve grandmothers in breastfeeding promotion efforts to strengthen intergenerational support for optimal breastfeeding practices.</p>","PeriodicalId":54266,"journal":{"name":"International Breastfeeding Journal","volume":"20 1","pages":"63"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-08-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12357419/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144859920","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative and Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding programs: applying the Non-adoption, Abandonment, Spread, Scale up, Sustainability (NASSS) health technology adoption framework to analyze challenges to hospital implementation in Australia and Indonesia.","authors":"Andini Pramono, Julie Smith, Jane Desborough","doi":"10.1186/s13006-025-00754-0","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13006-025-00754-0","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Global uptake of the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) and Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding (Ten Steps) is low, and sustainability is a challenge. Although both programs are backed by strong evidence and international endorsement, their integration into national health systems has been inconsistent and often lacks institutional prioritization. This study aimed to analyze challenges to implementation of the BFHI and Ten Steps programs in Australia and Indonesia.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We used the Non-adoption, Scale-up, Spread and Sustainability (NASSS) framework and categorized the relative complexity of implementing the program into each setting.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Most BFHI/Ten Steps implementation domains were categorized as complicated or complex, and the policy level, organizational and community settings for the intervention overlapped for most domains. Despite the cultural and health systems differences between Australia and Indonesia, both environments present challenges and also unique opportunities for the uptake and scale up of BFHI/Ten Steps with the right support and adaptation. Importantly, the complexity was not only technical but also institutional, with implementation often relying on individual champions rather than systemic support.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Systems that require and motivate compliance to the WHO Code (Step 1) and optimize healthcare professionals' (HCP) lactation support capacity (Step 2) are crucial, and need to be regulated and coordinated from the national level. To achieve optimal support for initiating and establishing breastfeeding, governments, facilities, and relevant HCPs must support birth models that ensure women receive continuity of care and adequate time with skilled midwives, who in turn are educated in ways that are free from commercial influence (Step 1). These policy and clinical level steps can reduce the misalignment of costs and benefits of BFHI and Ten Steps implementation. Strengthening institutional commitment and embedding BFHI into national quality frameworks may further enhance sustainability and scale-up. A coordinated, system-wide approach is essential to ensure these evidence-based practices become standard in maternal and newborn care.</p>","PeriodicalId":54266,"journal":{"name":"International Breastfeeding Journal","volume":"20 1","pages":"62"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-08-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12345096/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144849640","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Experiences of healthcare professionals in a breastfeeding training program.","authors":"Karin Cato, Eva-Lotta Funkquist, Paola Oras","doi":"10.1186/s13006-025-00760-2","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13006-025-00760-2","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>This study aimed to elucidate healthcare professionals' (HCPs) evaluations of a breastfeeding training program that incorporated diverse professions along the care continuum.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The breastfeeding training program was conducted over a full day during 2018-2019. To enable as many HCPs as possible to participate, the program was offered om twelve different dates. Approximately 25 HCPs took part on each occasion. Both qualitative and quantitative data was gathered on each occasion. The cohort comprised 238 HCPs, including midwives, registered nurses, specialist registered nurses, assistant nurses, physicians, and psychologists, all actively engaged in clinical practice at delivery/maternity wards or child healthcare centers. HCPs completed questionnaires featuring both closed and open-ended queries at the commencement and conclusion of the training program. Additionally, participants collaborated in small groups to propose improvements within the care continuum.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Following the training program, HCPs reported a perceived increase in their interest in breastfeeding and noted the acquisition of novel tools for breastfeeding support. Noteworthy aspects of the training program, as identified by participants, included group discussions, the structure of the training session, inspiration for breastfeeding support, newfound knowledge regarding breastfeeding, and the utility of provided parental materials.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The breastfeeding training program was beneficial across various HCP roles. The training program served to augment participants' interest in breastfeeding and equipped them with resources to bolster ongoing breastfeeding support efforts. Facilitating HCP attendance at such training sessions and fostering commitment to breastfeeding promotion emerge as crucial imperatives.</p><p><strong>Trial registration: </strong>Detailed information about the program and its implementation is available in the trial registered in the ISRCTN Registry: https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN91972905 .</p>","PeriodicalId":54266,"journal":{"name":"International Breastfeeding Journal","volume":"20 1","pages":"61"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-08-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12341093/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144838586","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Progress and inequalities in early initiation of breastfeeding among women in Sierra Leone, 2008-2019.","authors":"Florence Gyembuzie Wongnaah, Augustus Osborne, Khadijat Adeleye, Camilla Bangura, Comfort Z Olorunsaiye, Bright Opoku Ahinkorah","doi":"10.1186/s13006-025-00749-x","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13006-025-00749-x","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Early initiation of breastfeeding, defined as placing a newborn to the breast within the first hour of birth, is vital for improving neonatal survival, strengthening the mother-child bond, and ensuring the delivery of essential nutrients and antibodies. This study examines progress and socioeconomic inequalities in the early initiation of breastfeeding among women in Sierra Leone from 2008 to 2019.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We used data from the three rounds of the Sierra Leone Demographic and Health Survey conducted in 2008, 2013, and 2019. We used the Health Equity Assessment Toolkit developed by the World Health Organisation to calculate the inequality measures among women 15-49 years, which include simple difference (D), ratio (R), population attributable risk (PAR), and population attributable fraction (PAF). The inequality assessment was conducted based on six stratifiers: age, economic status, level of education, place of residence, sex of the child, and sub-national region.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In Sierra Leone, the early initiation of breastfeeding rate increased from 48.7% in 2008 to 75.2% in 2019. Higher rates of early initiation of breastfeeding were observed among mothers (15-19 years), women from the lowest wealth quintile, those without formal education, and those residing in rural areas. However, regional inequalities persisted, with the Eastern region showing the lowest rates. The inequality (D) in age increased from - 0.2 in 2008 to -1.6 in 2019. The economic status disparity increased from - 8.7% in 2008 to -18.4% in 2019. Inequality for education decreased from - 10.6 in 2008 to -4.7 in 2019. The increase in place of residence inequality was from -2.6% in 2008 to -13.4% in 2019. For the sex of the child, the disparity increased from - 1.5% to -3.6% in 2019. Regional disparity increased from 19.7 in 2008 to 28.6 in 2019. PAR also rose from 8.9 to 11.1 percentage points.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Early initiation of breastfeeding has shown substantial improvement in Sierra Leone, highlighting the effectiveness of recent public health interventions. However, inequalities accross economic status, level of education, sex of the child, and sub-national region still persist. To sustain these gains and ensure equitable progress, continued policy attention and targeted strategies are essential to address persistent socio-economic and regional inequalities disparities.</p>","PeriodicalId":54266,"journal":{"name":"International Breastfeeding Journal","volume":"20 1","pages":"60"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-08-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12329861/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144800923","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The effect of medication use on breastfeeding continuation: a systematic review with narrative synthesis.","authors":"Rachel Pilgrim, Mo Kwok, Anthony May, Sarah Chapman, Matthew D Jones","doi":"10.1186/s13006-025-00756-y","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13006-025-00756-y","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":54266,"journal":{"name":"International Breastfeeding Journal","volume":"20 1","pages":"59"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-08-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12320353/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144785949","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Physicians not in direct contact with breastfeeding: knowledge of the compatibility with diseases and the most prescribed drugs in their specialty.","authors":"Carla Carpena Tamarit, Ana Cornide Carallo, Ana Royuela Vicente, Miguel Ángel Marín Gabriel","doi":"10.1186/s13006-025-00752-2","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13006-025-00752-2","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":54266,"journal":{"name":"International Breastfeeding Journal","volume":"20 1","pages":"57"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-07-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12297763/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144719097","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A quality improvement intervention to improve medium-term breastfeeding in moderate- and late-preterm infants.","authors":"Katarina Berndt, Sabrina Holzapfel, Annika Dietz, Anna Badura, Ines Mack, Stefanie Bruhn, Sabine Stahl, Julia Preßler, Sven Wellmann","doi":"10.1186/s13006-025-00751-3","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13006-025-00751-3","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Despite medical advancements, the rate of premature births remains at one in ten babies worldwide. Moderate and late preterm (MLPT, gestational age 32-36 weeks) infants constitute 80% of all preterm births and are at higher risk of short- and long-term complications compared to term infants. Breastfeeding helps to reduce these risks, but evidence on breastfeeding rates and success factors in MLPT infants is limited.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A prospective intervention trial included a pre-intervention phase from June to September 2022 (comparison) and a post-intervention phase from June to October 2023 (intervention) at one tertiary academic hospital. Clinical parameters from pregnancy, delivery, and postnatal care were collected from MPLT infants and their mothers, including mid-term breastfeeding at infant´s four-month health check-up. Intervention was a quality improvement (QI) initiative involving staff training and parent education using an information platform (Neo-MILK app) with breastfeeding content. Primary outcome was breastfeeding rate at the age of four months after birth. Various secondary outcomes were defined, including growth sufficient exclusive breast milk feeding at 14 days after birth. Relative risks (RR) and 95% confidence intervals approximated from odds ratios obtained through univariate logistic regression to identify predictors of breastfeeding success.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Out of 170 eligible mothers of MLPT infants, 69 participated (36 intervention, 33 comparison group) with similar baseline characteristics. At four months of age (primary endpoint), 75% of the intervention group were breastfeeding compared to 48% of the comparison group (p = 0.023). Significant independent predictors of medium-term breastfeeding success were higher socioeconomic status (RR 1.16; 95% CI 1.01, 1.31), growth sufficient exclusive breast milk feeding and maternal self-efficacy, both measured at 14 days postpartum (RR 1.84; 95% CI 1.37, 2.01 and RR 1.04; 95% CI 1.02, 1.06, respectively). In contrast, delivery by cesarean section was associated with lower medium-term breastfeeding success (RR 0.21; 95% CI 0.07, 0.52).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The implementation of a QI initiative, including breastfeeding education, early postpartum milk pumping and lactation support based on a common information platform for staff and parents was associated with increased medium-term breastfeeding success in MLPT infants. Despite early interventions, caesarean section remains a barrier to breastfeeding.</p><p><strong>Trial registration: </strong>The study is registered in the German Clinical Trials Register (DRKS00034762).</p>","PeriodicalId":54266,"journal":{"name":"International Breastfeeding Journal","volume":"20 1","pages":"58"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-07-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12296597/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144719095","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Analysis of breastfeeding status and influencing factors among healthcare workers in Southwestern China.","authors":"Tingting Dai, Jiaxin Wan, Qiuyue Liu, Xiaoyan Liu, Cheng Chen","doi":"10.1186/s13006-025-00757-x","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13006-025-00757-x","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>This study aims to evaluate the current status of breastfeeding practices among healthcare workers in Southwest China, identify key factors influencing their exclusive breastfeeding (EBF), and provide targeted recommendations for increasing the EBF rate and prolonging EBF duration in this population.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 685 healthcare workers who were ≥ 6 months postpartum, with data collected from January 2019 to January 2024. The questionnaire included items on general demographics, breastfeeding knowledge, and breastfeeding practices. Exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) was defined as feeding infants only breast milk from birth, with no other foods or drinks (including water) provided. Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify factors influencing EBF, and based on the results, a nomogram prediction model was constructed and validated using R software.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 685 participants were enrolled in this study, among whom 363 (53.0%) had exclusive breastfeeding durations of less than 5 months (Group A) and 322 (47.0%) continued exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months (Group B). The primary sources of breastfeeding knowledge were the internet and professional consultations, while common barriers included nipple/breast problems and work-related factors. Logistic regression analysis identified four independent factors associated with the continuation of exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months (all p < 0.05): parity (OR 1.86; 95%CI 1.35, 2.58), breastfeeding consultations during pregnancy (OR 1.44; 95%CI 1.04, 2.00), three-shift work resumption (OR 1.67; 95%CI 1.32, 2.10), and family support for breastfeeding (OR 1.90; 95%CI 1.07, 3.37). A nomogram prediction model constructed based on these factors showed an area under the ROC curve of 0.75 (95% CI 0.70, 0.81), indicating good predictive performance with high consistency between predicted and observed outcomes.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Healthcare institutions should actively provide breastfeeding consultation services, encourage postpartum healthcare workers to delay participation in shift work, and strengthen breastfeeding education to enhance public awareness. These measures will help improve the exclusive breastfeeding rate among infants under 6 months of age.</p>","PeriodicalId":54266,"journal":{"name":"International Breastfeeding Journal","volume":"20 1","pages":"56"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-07-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12297346/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144719096","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}