Integrative Review of the Influence of Support Groups on Breastfeeding Duration Beyond 6 Months

Objective

To review the literature regarding the influence of support groups on extending breastfeeding duration beyond 6 months.

Data Sources

PubMed and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) databases.

Study Selection

We included reports of qualitative and quantitative studies on breastfeeding support groups and reported breastfeeding durations beyond 6 months. The articles were peer-reviewed, written in English, and published from 2013 to 2023. We identified 1748 articles, removed 145 duplicates, screened 1603 titles and abstracts, and conducted a full-text review on the remaining 66. To maintain our focus on sustained breastfeeding, we excluded articles on breastfeeding durations of less than and up to 6 months. A total of 19 articles met the eligibility criteria.

Data Extraction

We extracted the following data from the included articles: study design, sample size, purpose, type of breastfeeding support received, and reported breastfeeding duration.

Data Synthesis

We used the social ecological model as a conceptual framework. The key influences created from the included articles were aligned with the four levels of the model: individual, relationships, community, and societal. We defined key influences as concepts that were discussed in three or more articles.

Conclusion

Breastfeeding support groups helped participants in the included studies to sustain breastfeeding through key influences that aligned with the four levels of the social ecological model. Support groups provided individual, relationship, community, and societal benefits that holistically supported sustained breastfeeding.