Use of social media for receiving professional support in enhancing mothers’ lactation self-efficacy
Document Type
Article
Department
Paediatrics and Child Health, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Pakistan
Abstract
Background: Insufficient support for breastfeeding and limited exclusive breastfeeding rates emphasize the need for high-impact approaches to enhance maternal confidence in lactation. Social media has emerged as a promising platform for professional support and information dissemination in this context. This review aims to examine the role of social media in providing professional lactation support to mothers in enhancing their lactation self-efficacy.
Method: Employing PRISMA guidelines, the review sought relevant literature on professional assistance in enhancing breastfeeding self-efficacy. Major databases, including PubMed, CINAHL, Google Scholar, and Science Direct, were meticulously queried using targeted keywords. Every selected article underwent screening for English language and full-text accessibility.
Results: The search yielded 15,746 hits, and after a meticulous screening process, 33 studies were included for synthesis. The synthesized literature revealed a dearth of studies investigating mothers' viewpoints on utilizing social media for professional support to enhance breastfeeding self-efficacy, particularly within the context of Karachi, Pakistan. Despite this gap, the selected studies highlighted the potential of social media, to positively influence breastfeeding practices, provide emotional support, and deliver valuable information to mothers.
Conclusion: The findings show a lack of specific studies conducted in Pakistan, which highlights the importance of conducting research that is customized to understand how mothers perceive the use of social media for professional breastfeeding support. The results emphasize the untapped opportunities presented by online platforms in promoting mothers' confidence in breastfeeding and suggest the need for focused interventions that influence these digital channels to improve both maternal breastfeeding confidence and infant health.
Recommended Citation
Lalwani, M, Kurji, Z, Rattani, S, Shaheen, Z, Khuwaja, H M, & Ariff, S. Use of social media for receiving professional support in enhancing mothers’ lactation self-efficacy. Journal of Asian Midwives. 2024;11(1):39–72.
