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Use of new technologies and promotion of breastfeeding: integrative literature review

ABSTRACT

Objective:

To identify the most used social networks and the most consumed contents by women seeking support and further understanding of breastfeeding/breast milk.

Data source:

An integrative literature review was performed using the Psychology & Behavioral Sciences Collection, MEDLINE Complete, CINAHL Complete, MedicLatina, Academic Search Complete and ERIC databases. The search was conducted in April, 2020. The inclusion criteria were: publications in Portuguese, English or Spanish with several keywords, such as “Breastfeeding”, “Social Networking”, “Social Media”, “Breastfeeding Promotion”, in the title and in the abstract, with the combination of the Boolean operators “AND” and “OR”, in original articles of primary source, which were available in full text and were published between 2015 and 2020.

Data synthesis:

Out of the 93 articles that were first examined, 10 were used in the descriptive summary. Studies from the United States, Sweden, New Zealand, Brazil, Australia, Indonesia, and Switzerland were included in the review. Women were found to use several social networks, which is facilitated by an easy access to the Internet and to its content through several electronic resources, often using more than one device simultaneously. Most issues were universally recognized as some of the most common reasons for interrupting breastfeeding.

Conclusions:

The analyzed studies show that women seek to clarify their doubts outside the traditional health services’ environment, using Facebook, apps, websites, online videos, podcasts and e-mail. We stress the importance of these support groups for promoting breastfeeding and the need for health professionals to introduce themselves in social networks to reach mothers.

Keywords:
Breastfeeding; Social networking; Social media; Health promotion; Health personnel

RESUMO

Objetivo:

Identificar as redes sociais mais utilizadas e os conteúdos mais consumidos pelas mulheres que procuram apoio e esclarecimento sobre amamentação/aleitamento materno.

Fontes de dados:

Revisão integrativa da literatura, nas bases de dados Psychology & Behavioral Sciences Collection, MEDLINE Complete, CINAHL Complete, MedicLatina, Academic Search Complete e Education Resources Information Center (ERIC). A busca foi realizada em abril de 2020. Os critérios de inclusão foram: publicações em português, inglês ou espanhol com vários descritores, tais como Breast-Feeding, Social Networking, Social Media, Breast-Feeding Promotion, no título e resumos, com a combinação dos operadores booleanos AND e OR, estudos originais de natureza primária, disponibilizados na íntegra e publicados entre 2015 e 2020.

Síntese dos dados:

Dos 93 artigos inicialmente avaliados, dez compuseram a síntese descritiva. Foram envolvidos estudos dos Estados Unidos, Suécia, Nova Zelândia, Brasil, Austrália, Indonésia e Suiça. Observou-se que as mulheres utilizam uma variedade de redes sociais, estimuladas pelo fácil acesso à internet e ao seu conteúdo, mediante os mais diversos meios eletrônicos e muitas vezes em mais de um equipamento simultaneamente. A maioria das questões eram temas universalmente reconhecidos como alguns dos motivos mais comuns para a interrupção do aleitamento materno.

Conclusões:

Os estudos analisados evidenciam que as mulheres procuram no Facebook, aplicativos, sites, vídeos on-line, podcasts e e-mail o esclarecimento das suas dúvidas em vez de o ambiente tradicional dos serviços de saúde. Realçamos a importância desses grupos de apoio na promoção da amamentação e a necessidade de os profissionais de saúde se introduzirem nas redes sociais para chegarem às mães.

Palavras-chave:
Aleitamento materno; Rede social; Mídias sociais; Promoção da saúde; Pessoal de saúde

INTRODUCTION

The benefits of breastfeeding and breast milk both for the child and the mother are well known.11. United Nations Children’s Fund, World Health Organization. Capture the moment: early initiation of breastfeeding: the best start for every newborn. New York: The United Nations; 2018.,22. United Nations Children’s Fund. The state of the world’s children 2019: children, food and nutrition: growing well in a changing world [homepage on the Internet]. New York: The United Nations; 2019 [cited 2020 Mar 10]. Available from: https://www.unicef.org/reports/state-of-worlds-children-2019
https://www.unicef.org/reports/state-of-...
Breastfeeding is the strongest isolated strategy for the prevention of infant mortality, promotion of physical and mental health of the child and the woman who breastfeeds.33. Cardoso Neto A, Cardoso AM, Oliveira MS. Fatores que levam ao desmame precoce com puérperas da unidade básica de saúde Palmeiras em Santa Inês Maranhão. Proceedings of the XV Safety, Health and Environment World Congress; 2015 July 19-22; Porto, Portugal. p. 288-92. Exclusive breastfeeding is recommended for the first six months of life of the child, as well as its maintenance with complementary foods until the age of 2 years or more.44. World Health Organization [homepage on the Internet]. 10 facts on breastfeeding [cited 2020 Mar 10]. Geneva: WHO; 2017. Available from: http://www.who.int/features/factfiles/breastfeeding/en/
http://www.who.int/features/factfiles/br...
However, worldwide, only 40% of the children younger than 6 months of age are exclusively breastfed, and three out of five newborns are not breastfed in the first hour of life.44. World Health Organization [homepage on the Internet]. 10 facts on breastfeeding [cited 2020 Mar 10]. Geneva: WHO; 2017. Available from: http://www.who.int/features/factfiles/breastfeeding/en/
http://www.who.int/features/factfiles/br...
Other data show that only two out of five children younger than six months of age are exclusively breastfed.22. United Nations Children’s Fund. The state of the world’s children 2019: children, food and nutrition: growing well in a changing world [homepage on the Internet]. New York: The United Nations; 2019 [cited 2020 Mar 10]. Available from: https://www.unicef.org/reports/state-of-worlds-children-2019
https://www.unicef.org/reports/state-of-...
In Portugal, in 2014, the prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding at 3, 4 and 6 months of age was 55.9, 48.5, and 30.3%, respectively.55. República Portuguesa. Conselho Nacional de Saúde. Gerações mais saudáveis: políticas públicas de promoção da saúde das crianças e jovens em Portugal. Lisboa: CNS; 2018.

Acknowledging breastfeeding as the best source of nutrition for newborns and children constitutes a global goal: that until 2025 at least 50% of the children be exclusively breastfed in the first six months of life.66. World Health Organization [homepage on the Internet]. Global nutrition targets 2025: policy brief series [cited 2020 Mar 10]. Geneva: WHO; 2014. Available from: https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/149018/WHO_NMH_NHD_14.2_eng.pdf?ua=1
https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/hand...
There are several factors to explain the early abandonment of breastfeeding. Raising awareness among the women is essential and should be one of the efforts in all countries.77. United Nations Children’s Fund. Breastfeeding: a mother’s gift, for every child [homepage on the Internet]. New York: The United Nations; 2018 [cited 2020 Mar 10]. Available from: https://www.unicef.org/publications/files/UNICEF_Breastfeeding_A_Mothers_Gift_for_Every_Child.pdf
https://www.unicef.org/publications/file...
In fact, studies have shown that the implementation of pro-breastfeeding interventions in health systems and in the community has the potential to increase the rates of exclusive breastfeeding 2.5 times; however, mothers need to have access to information and support to breastfeed immediately after birth. There should also be rules to support and encourage breastfeeding, even in public spaces. In the communities, the support of advisors and trained colleagues, including other mothers and relatives, is equally relevant. Also, the support of men, husbands and partners cannot be underestimated.77. United Nations Children’s Fund. Breastfeeding: a mother’s gift, for every child [homepage on the Internet]. New York: The United Nations; 2018 [cited 2020 Mar 10]. Available from: https://www.unicef.org/publications/files/UNICEF_Breastfeeding_A_Mothers_Gift_for_Every_Child.pdf
https://www.unicef.org/publications/file...

In order to promote, protect and support breastfeeding, several initiatives have been implemented around the world. We emphasize the initiative Hospitais Amigos dos Bebês, which establishes the adoption of ten measures for the success of breastfeeding, divided in two groups: clinical management procedures and key clinical practices.44. World Health Organization [homepage on the Internet]. 10 facts on breastfeeding [cited 2020 Mar 10]. Geneva: WHO; 2017. Available from: http://www.who.int/features/factfiles/breastfeeding/en/
http://www.who.int/features/factfiles/br...
In these recommendations, the following steps stand out:

  • To have a written policy of breastfeeding promotion that is regularly shared with the entire health care staff and the parents;

  • To discuss the advantages and the practice of breastfeeding with all pregnant women;

  • To help mothers to recognize the request for breastfeeding from their babies and react to them;

  • To inform the mothers about the risks of using bottles, artificial nipples and pacifiers;

  • To coordinate discharge from the hospital or maternity ward so that parents and infants can have access to the existing support and care services.

Even though this initiative determines the encouragement and on-site support to breastfeeding by health professionals,88. Aguiar AM, Carvalho S. Redes on-line de apoio à maternidade: empoderamento feminino. In: Carvalho MR, Gomes, F, editors. Amamentação: bases científicas. 4. ed. Rio de Janeiro: Guanabara Koogan; 2017. p. 492-8. its motivation is essential for the decision to breastfeed, depending on the personal beliefs of the woman and the support she receives from her family and from society.99. Nascimento MB. Equipamentos e tecnologia em amamentação. In: Carvalho MR, Gomes F, editors. Amamentação: bases científicas. 4. ed. Rio de Janeiro: Guanabara Koogan; 2017. p. 298-307. In this sense, it is observed that women often do not dispose of these groups, both in the community and in the family, and end up being supported by a smaller network.88. Aguiar AM, Carvalho S. Redes on-line de apoio à maternidade: empoderamento feminino. In: Carvalho MR, Gomes, F, editors. Amamentação: bases científicas. 4. ed. Rio de Janeiro: Guanabara Koogan; 2017. p. 492-8.

To fulfill this gap, women started to look for support and orientation in the social media,88. Aguiar AM, Carvalho S. Redes on-line de apoio à maternidade: empoderamento feminino. In: Carvalho MR, Gomes, F, editors. Amamentação: bases científicas. 4. ed. Rio de Janeiro: Guanabara Koogan; 2017. p. 492-8. in their computers, tablets and smartphones.1010. Guimarães CM, Imamura ME, Richter S, Monteiro JC. Breastfeeding and mHealth technologies: analysis of mobile applications for tablets and smartphones. Rev Eletr Enf. 2018;20:1-11. https://doi.org/10.5216/ree.v20.48578
https://doi.org/10.5216/ree.v20.48578...
In fact, social media became the favorite internet tool for consumers, and is considered as the most important mean of communication in this environment.1111. Martins TS, Matoso AF, Cruz JA, Ahlfeldt R. Facebook influence on consumer behavior. Rev Científica Hermes. 2015;13:86-106. It is a large online support network, stimulated by the easy access to the internet and its content through several electronic means. The available information has become more specialized; however, it is a new and little studied resource, and a promising field for the development of research.88. Aguiar AM, Carvalho S. Redes on-line de apoio à maternidade: empoderamento feminino. In: Carvalho MR, Gomes, F, editors. Amamentação: bases científicas. 4. ed. Rio de Janeiro: Guanabara Koogan; 2017. p. 492-8.

Therefore, we carried out this study whose objective is to identify the most used social media and the most consumed contents by women who look for support and clarification on the topics of breastfeeding/breast milk. It is important to mention the scenario of scientific evidence in the social media about breastfeeding, since this is an important mean to publish information.

METHOD

We performed an integrative literature review, according to the classification of level of evidence and the six recommended steps:1212. Melnyk BM, Fineout-Overholt E. Evidence-based practice in nursing & healthcare: a guide to best practice. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2011.,1313. Moher D, Liberati A, Tetzlaff J, Altman, DG, PRISMA Group. Preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses: the PRISMA statement. Int J Surg. 2010;8:336-41. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijsu.2010.02.007
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijsu.2010.02.0...
selection of the theme and guiding question; establishment of inclusion and exclusion criteria; sample (article selection); categorization of the selected articles; data analysis and interpretation; and synthesis of the knowledge through the presentation of an integrative review.

In the first step, the following guiding question was defined: What are the most used social media and most consumed contents by women who look for support and clarification on breastfeeding/breast milk?

In the second step, the inclusion criteria were the articles with samples of women who look for support and clarification about breastfeeding/breast milk in the social media, classified as primary source, in Portuguese, English or Spanish, with free access, available in full and published between 2015 and 2020. We excluded review articles. The article was revised by two independent researchers, in April, 2020, accessing the databases Psychology & Behavioral Sciences Collection, MEDLINE Complete, CINAHL Complete, MedicLatina, Academic Search Complete and Education Resources Information Center (ERIC). The research was carried out observing titles and abstracts, using the descriptors: Networking Social, Networking Social On-line, Facebook, Social Media, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, E-technologies, Digital Technology, Electronic Technology, Mobile Devices, Internet, Technology and Breastfeeding, Lactation, Breastfeeding Promotion, Lactation Promotion, Human Milk Promotion, and the Boolean operators AND / OR. In general, we recovered 93 articles from the databases, and after identification and exclusion, by reading the title or abstract (38) and duplicates (32), 23 articles were evaluated with full texts. In this stage, we excluded 13 articles for not providing answers to the objective. Therefore, ten articles were included for data extraction (Figure 1).

Figure 1
Flowchart of the stages of identification, selection and inclusion of articles.

RESULTS

The analysis allowed access to ten studies, which were included in this review for providing an answer for the defined question and objective. Nine studies were published in English and one in Portuguese; two in 2016, two in 2017, three in 2018, and three in 2019, with great diversity regarding the location of the publication, in terms of continents and countries. As to the type of study, three are quantitative and seven are qualitative. One of them fits level of evidence II, and the others, level of evidence VI. Table 1 presents the summary of the characteristics of the included studies.

Table 1
Characteristics of the included articles (n=10).

After reading the articles, we grouped the most relevant information of each article (Table 2). Therefore, we created four blocks: used social network/information technology, consumed themes/contents, advantages of social media, and problems or difficulties with the use of social media.

Table 2
Synthesis of the information available by the included articles.

Used social media / information technology

The study carried out by Demirci et al.1414. Demirci JR, Cohen SM, Parker M, Holmes A, Bogen DL. Access, use, and preferences for technology-based perinatal and breastfeeding support among childbearing women. J Perinat Educ. 2016;25:29-36. https://doi.org/10.1891/1058-1243.25.1.29
https://doi.org/10.1891/1058-1243.25.1.2...
about the use and preferences regarding technology to obtain perinatal and breastfeeding support observed that the most used technologies were applications, internet, websites about pregnancy/parenthood and e-mail. Other additional technological sources were used, as follows: Facebook, text messages, videos and online courses/classes, electronic medical journals, peer forums, e-books and podcasts.1414. Demirci JR, Cohen SM, Parker M, Holmes A, Bogen DL. Access, use, and preferences for technology-based perinatal and breastfeeding support among childbearing women. J Perinat Educ. 2016;25:29-36. https://doi.org/10.1891/1058-1243.25.1.29
https://doi.org/10.1891/1058-1243.25.1.2...

Besides, Tomfohrde and Reinke,1515. Tomfohrde OJ, Reinke JS. Breastfeeding mothers’ use of technology while breastfeeding. Comput Human Behav. 2016;64:556-61. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2016.07.057
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2016.07.05...
in the study carried out to collect information about breastfeeding and social media, observed that of the participants who indicated using social media or e-mail while breastfeeding, 92% reported using Facebook. The participants pointed out to the use of other social media platforms: Pinterest, Twitter, Instagram, BabyCenter and Glide.

Likewise, Power et al.1616. Power JM, Braun KL, Bersamin A. Exploring the potential for technology-based nutrition education among WIC recipients in remote Alaska native communities. J Nutr Educ Behav. 2017;49(Suppl 2):S186-91. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneb.2016.11.003
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneb.2016.11.0...
verified, in the study developed to analyze the use of media technology in native communities of Alaska about nutrition education, that the use of media technology was common. The interviewees reported having access to a wide variety of technologies, such as smartphones (78.8%), tablets (44.8%) and computers (38.4%). Text messages were the most used one, followed by Facebook. In total, 80.3% of the interviewees used the internet. The most popular ways to receive information about nutrition were e-mail (67.8%), online videos (60.4%), Facebook (58.0%) and text messages (54.4%).

Likewise, Wennberg et al.,1717. Wennberg AL, Jonsson S, Janke JZ, Hörnsten Å. Online perceptions of mothers about breastfeeding and introducing formula: qualitative study. JMIR Public Health Surveill. 2017;3:e88. https://doi.org/10.2196/publichealth.8197
https://doi.org/10.2196/publichealth.819...
who were based on the analysis of 370 published posts, and Alianmoghaddam et al.,1818. Alianmoghaddam N, Phibbs S, Benn B. “I did a lot of Googling”: a qualitative study of exclusive breastfeeding support through social media. Women Birth. 2018;32:147-56. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wombi.2018.05.008
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wombi.2018.05....
who explored the influence of social media on the practice of exclusive breastfeeding, observed that most mothers (22 out of 30) used the internet and social media to support their breastfeeding practice. The most used research support means and mechanisms were Google, Facebook and websites addressed to parents. They equally verified that some of the participants, whose relatives lived in other countries, used Skype or the telephone. On the other hand, the participants in the studies carried out by Wennberg et al.,1717. Wennberg AL, Jonsson S, Janke JZ, Hörnsten Å. Online perceptions of mothers about breastfeeding and introducing formula: qualitative study. JMIR Public Health Surveill. 2017;3:e88. https://doi.org/10.2196/publichealth.8197
https://doi.org/10.2196/publichealth.819...
Araújo et al.,1919. Araújo JC, Lima TS, Santos JA, Costa ES. Use of whatsapp app as a tool to education and health promotion of pregnant women during prenatal care. Anais do 1º Congresso Norte-Nordeste de Tecnologias em Saúde; 2018 Dez 5-8; Teresina, Brasil. p. 85-90. Bridges et al.,2020. Bridges N, Howell G, Schmied V. Exploring breastfeeding support on social media. Int Breastfeed J. 2018;13:1-9. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13006-018-0166-9
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13006-018-0166-...
Dewanti et al.,2121. Dewanti LP, Februhartanty J, Roshita A, Dewanti LP. Online mother support group: the new way of peer support for improving breastfeeding performance. J Health Educ. 2019;4:22-8. https://doi.org/10.15294/jhe.v4i1.29407
https://doi.org/10.15294/jhe.v4i1.29407...
Rezaallah et al.2222. Rezaallah B, Lewis DJ, Pierce C, Zeilhofer H-F, Berg B-I. Social media surveillance of multiple sclerosis medications used during pregnancy and breastfeeding: content analysis. J Med Internet Res. 2019;21:e13003. https://doi.org/10.2196/13003
https://doi.org/10.2196/13003...
and Wagg et al.2323. Wagg AJ, Callanan MM, Hassett A. Online social support group use by breastfeeding mothers: a content analysis. Heliyon. 2019;5:e01245. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2019.e01245
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2019.e...
observed posts that were published in online forums, the use of WhatsApp as an education tool and health promotion among pregnant women, in prenatal care, closed Facebook groups about breastfeeding support and online groups that support mothers.

Consumed themes/contents

Support, encouragement and expectations about the evolution of breastfeeding in the postpartum period, signs of adequate production of milk and child nutrition, visual representations of how to properly position the child and advice from experts and colleagues were the most consumed contents by puerperal women in the study by Demirci et al.1414. Demirci JR, Cohen SM, Parker M, Holmes A, Bogen DL. Access, use, and preferences for technology-based perinatal and breastfeeding support among childbearing women. J Perinat Educ. 2016;25:29-36. https://doi.org/10.1891/1058-1243.25.1.29
https://doi.org/10.1891/1058-1243.25.1.2...
Besides, of the interviews with the participants of the study carried out by Alianmoghaddam et al.,1818. Alianmoghaddam N, Phibbs S, Benn B. “I did a lot of Googling”: a qualitative study of exclusive breastfeeding support through social media. Women Birth. 2018;32:147-56. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wombi.2018.05.008
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wombi.2018.05....
four themes came up:

  • The Y generation mothers need online information about child nutrition;

  • Apps for smartphones can be a good option to promote breastfeeding;

  • Weak bonds between mothers who breastfeed, according to Facebook and other social media websites, facilitate the dissemination of information;

  • The use of child nutrition support from a geographical distance, via Skype.

Likewise, of the 72 specific questions about breastfeeding, Bridges et al.2020. Bridges N, Howell G, Schmied V. Exploring breastfeeding support on social media. Int Breastfeed J. 2018;13:1-9. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13006-018-0166-9
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13006-018-0166-...
categorized 55 (76%) in three areas: breastfeeding management; breastfeeding and health; and breastfeeding and work. “Balance between social expectations and confidence in your parental skills”, “Making an effort to be a good mother”, “Making an effort for your own well-being”, and “Making an effort to find your own path” are emphasized by Wenberg et al..1717. Wennberg AL, Jonsson S, Janke JZ, Hörnsten Å. Online perceptions of mothers about breastfeeding and introducing formula: qualitative study. JMIR Public Health Surveill. 2017;3:e88. https://doi.org/10.2196/publichealth.8197
https://doi.org/10.2196/publichealth.819...
On the other hand, Araújo et al.,1919. Araújo JC, Lima TS, Santos JA, Costa ES. Use of whatsapp app as a tool to education and health promotion of pregnant women during prenatal care. Anais do 1º Congresso Norte-Nordeste de Tecnologias em Saúde; 2018 Dez 5-8; Teresina, Brasil. p. 85-90. Dewanti et al.,2121. Dewanti LP, Februhartanty J, Roshita A, Dewanti LP. Online mother support group: the new way of peer support for improving breastfeeding performance. J Health Educ. 2019;4:22-8. https://doi.org/10.15294/jhe.v4i1.29407
https://doi.org/10.15294/jhe.v4i1.29407...
Rezaallah et al.2222. Rezaallah B, Lewis DJ, Pierce C, Zeilhofer H-F, Berg B-I. Social media surveillance of multiple sclerosis medications used during pregnancy and breastfeeding: content analysis. J Med Internet Res. 2019;21:e13003. https://doi.org/10.2196/13003
https://doi.org/10.2196/13003...
and Wagg et al.2323. Wagg AJ, Callanan MM, Hassett A. Online social support group use by breastfeeding mothers: a content analysis. Heliyon. 2019;5:e01245. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2019.e01245
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2019.e...
stated that the study participants showed doubt regarding the changes in the different gestational periods, diet, sexual activity during pregnancy, self-medication, oral health, vaccines during pregnancy, tests, body and emotional changes, child care, breastfeeding, types of delivery, importance of family support, physical activities, vaccination of the child and maternal and child care network.

Advantages of social media

The results of the different studies showed that the omnipresent nature of technology represents an opportunity to provide support and education to women who would not receive it in another way, for example, in the traditional doctor’s office.1414. Demirci JR, Cohen SM, Parker M, Holmes A, Bogen DL. Access, use, and preferences for technology-based perinatal and breastfeeding support among childbearing women. J Perinat Educ. 2016;25:29-36. https://doi.org/10.1891/1058-1243.25.1.29
https://doi.org/10.1891/1058-1243.25.1.2...
,1919. Araújo JC, Lima TS, Santos JA, Costa ES. Use of whatsapp app as a tool to education and health promotion of pregnant women during prenatal care. Anais do 1º Congresso Norte-Nordeste de Tecnologias em Saúde; 2018 Dez 5-8; Teresina, Brasil. p. 85-90. It allows the support of child nutrition in geographically distant populations1616. Power JM, Braun KL, Bersamin A. Exploring the potential for technology-based nutrition education among WIC recipients in remote Alaska native communities. J Nutr Educ Behav. 2017;49(Suppl 2):S186-91. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneb.2016.11.003
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneb.2016.11.0...
and informs pregnant women not only about pregnancy itself, but also about delivery, the postpartum period, breastfeeding, child nutrition1818. Alianmoghaddam N, Phibbs S, Benn B. “I did a lot of Googling”: a qualitative study of exclusive breastfeeding support through social media. Women Birth. 2018;32:147-56. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wombi.2018.05.008
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wombi.2018.05....
and child care.2121. Dewanti LP, Februhartanty J, Roshita A, Dewanti LP. Online mother support group: the new way of peer support for improving breastfeeding performance. J Health Educ. 2019;4:22-8. https://doi.org/10.15294/jhe.v4i1.29407
https://doi.org/10.15294/jhe.v4i1.29407...
,2323. Wagg AJ, Callanan MM, Hassett A. Online social support group use by breastfeeding mothers: a content analysis. Heliyon. 2019;5:e01245. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2019.e01245
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2019.e...
It is a mean that enables to share fears, concerns and exchange experiences between pregnant women of different ages and gestational periods1919. Araújo JC, Lima TS, Santos JA, Costa ES. Use of whatsapp app as a tool to education and health promotion of pregnant women during prenatal care. Anais do 1º Congresso Norte-Nordeste de Tecnologias em Saúde; 2018 Dez 5-8; Teresina, Brasil. p. 85-90. to get emotional help, encouragement, besides being a way to socialize with other mothers.2121. Dewanti LP, Februhartanty J, Roshita A, Dewanti LP. Online mother support group: the new way of peer support for improving breastfeeding performance. J Health Educ. 2019;4:22-8. https://doi.org/10.15294/jhe.v4i1.29407
https://doi.org/10.15294/jhe.v4i1.29407...

Problems or difficulties to use social media

According to the study by Tomfohrde and Reinke,1515. Tomfohrde OJ, Reinke JS. Breastfeeding mothers’ use of technology while breastfeeding. Comput Human Behav. 2016;64:556-61. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2016.07.057
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2016.07.05...
the use of technology while breastfeeding can lead mothers to miss the opportunity to make eye contact and interact with their children. Besides, Dewanti et al.2121. Dewanti LP, Februhartanty J, Roshita A, Dewanti LP. Online mother support group: the new way of peer support for improving breastfeeding performance. J Health Educ. 2019;4:22-8. https://doi.org/10.15294/jhe.v4i1.29407
https://doi.org/10.15294/jhe.v4i1.29407...
emphasized that some mothers manifested that, due to the use of social media, they felt overwhelmed by the amount of information and because it takes up too much time.

Power et al.1616. Power JM, Braun KL, Bersamin A. Exploring the potential for technology-based nutrition education among WIC recipients in remote Alaska native communities. J Nutr Educ Behav. 2017;49(Suppl 2):S186-91. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneb.2016.11.003
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneb.2016.11.0...
observed that, of the 63 interviewees who did not use the internet, the most common barriers for its use were not having access to it (36.4%), not having access to a computer (28.8%) and due to its high cost (13.6%). Only two (3%) interviewees who did not use the internet reported that they were simply not interested in it. The possible barriers to receiving nutrition information through media technology included slow internet (50.1%), no access to computers (41.7%) and high cost of the internet (34.9%).

DISCUSSION

The use of new information and communication technology has increased in the past years,2424. Prevedello BP, Dotto PP, Santos BZ. Animation in the video format as a technology for the promotion of breastfeeding. Res Soc Dev. 2020;9:e199911864. https://doi.org/10.33448/rsd-v9i1.1864
https://doi.org/10.33448/rsd-v9i1.1864...
and the current generation is known as the Y generation, or the “internet generation”.1818. Alianmoghaddam N, Phibbs S, Benn B. “I did a lot of Googling”: a qualitative study of exclusive breastfeeding support through social media. Women Birth. 2018;32:147-56. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wombi.2018.05.008
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wombi.2018.05....
Women at reproductive age, pregnant women or mothers of one child use new technologies and look, in the social media, for information about pregnancy, birth and child care.88. Aguiar AM, Carvalho S. Redes on-line de apoio à maternidade: empoderamento feminino. In: Carvalho MR, Gomes, F, editors. Amamentação: bases científicas. 4. ed. Rio de Janeiro: Guanabara Koogan; 2017. p. 492-8.,1414. Demirci JR, Cohen SM, Parker M, Holmes A, Bogen DL. Access, use, and preferences for technology-based perinatal and breastfeeding support among childbearing women. J Perinat Educ. 2016;25:29-36. https://doi.org/10.1891/1058-1243.25.1.29
https://doi.org/10.1891/1058-1243.25.1.2...
1616. Power JM, Braun KL, Bersamin A. Exploring the potential for technology-based nutrition education among WIC recipients in remote Alaska native communities. J Nutr Educ Behav. 2017;49(Suppl 2):S186-91. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneb.2016.11.003
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneb.2016.11.0...
,1818. Alianmoghaddam N, Phibbs S, Benn B. “I did a lot of Googling”: a qualitative study of exclusive breastfeeding support through social media. Women Birth. 2018;32:147-56. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wombi.2018.05.008
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wombi.2018.05....
,1919. Araújo JC, Lima TS, Santos JA, Costa ES. Use of whatsapp app as a tool to education and health promotion of pregnant women during prenatal care. Anais do 1º Congresso Norte-Nordeste de Tecnologias em Saúde; 2018 Dez 5-8; Teresina, Brasil. p. 85-90.,2121. Dewanti LP, Februhartanty J, Roshita A, Dewanti LP. Online mother support group: the new way of peer support for improving breastfeeding performance. J Health Educ. 2019;4:22-8. https://doi.org/10.15294/jhe.v4i1.29407
https://doi.org/10.15294/jhe.v4i1.29407...
The social network is a low-cost strategy in the improvement and in the health care of the mother and the child.88. Aguiar AM, Carvalho S. Redes on-line de apoio à maternidade: empoderamento feminino. In: Carvalho MR, Gomes, F, editors. Amamentação: bases científicas. 4. ed. Rio de Janeiro: Guanabara Koogan; 2017. p. 492-8.

In fact, nowadays the mothers have a wide online support network, stimulated by the easy access to the internet and its content through several electronic means, often in more than one device at a time: computers, notebooks, smartphones, tablets and cell phones,88. Aguiar AM, Carvalho S. Redes on-line de apoio à maternidade: empoderamento feminino. In: Carvalho MR, Gomes, F, editors. Amamentação: bases científicas. 4. ed. Rio de Janeiro: Guanabara Koogan; 2017. p. 492-8.,1010. Guimarães CM, Imamura ME, Richter S, Monteiro JC. Breastfeeding and mHealth technologies: analysis of mobile applications for tablets and smartphones. Rev Eletr Enf. 2018;20:1-11. https://doi.org/10.5216/ree.v20.48578
https://doi.org/10.5216/ree.v20.48578...
,1414. Demirci JR, Cohen SM, Parker M, Holmes A, Bogen DL. Access, use, and preferences for technology-based perinatal and breastfeeding support among childbearing women. J Perinat Educ. 2016;25:29-36. https://doi.org/10.1891/1058-1243.25.1.29
https://doi.org/10.1891/1058-1243.25.1.2...
1616. Power JM, Braun KL, Bersamin A. Exploring the potential for technology-based nutrition education among WIC recipients in remote Alaska native communities. J Nutr Educ Behav. 2017;49(Suppl 2):S186-91. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneb.2016.11.003
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneb.2016.11.0...
,1818. Alianmoghaddam N, Phibbs S, Benn B. “I did a lot of Googling”: a qualitative study of exclusive breastfeeding support through social media. Women Birth. 2018;32:147-56. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wombi.2018.05.008
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wombi.2018.05....
which allows them to be part of communities, groups, pages, blogs and social networks (Facebook, apps and websites, online videos, podcasts and e-mail), sharing knowledge and experiences with other people in similar situations.1010. Guimarães CM, Imamura ME, Richter S, Monteiro JC. Breastfeeding and mHealth technologies: analysis of mobile applications for tablets and smartphones. Rev Eletr Enf. 2018;20:1-11. https://doi.org/10.5216/ree.v20.48578
https://doi.org/10.5216/ree.v20.48578...
,1414. Demirci JR, Cohen SM, Parker M, Holmes A, Bogen DL. Access, use, and preferences for technology-based perinatal and breastfeeding support among childbearing women. J Perinat Educ. 2016;25:29-36. https://doi.org/10.1891/1058-1243.25.1.29
https://doi.org/10.1891/1058-1243.25.1.2...
1616. Power JM, Braun KL, Bersamin A. Exploring the potential for technology-based nutrition education among WIC recipients in remote Alaska native communities. J Nutr Educ Behav. 2017;49(Suppl 2):S186-91. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneb.2016.11.003
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneb.2016.11.0...
,1818. Alianmoghaddam N, Phibbs S, Benn B. “I did a lot of Googling”: a qualitative study of exclusive breastfeeding support through social media. Women Birth. 2018;32:147-56. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wombi.2018.05.008
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wombi.2018.05....
2323. Wagg AJ, Callanan MM, Hassett A. Online social support group use by breastfeeding mothers: a content analysis. Heliyon. 2019;5:e01245. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2019.e01245
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2019.e...
However, some mothers report unfavorable experiences for feeling overwhelmed by too much information, then diverting the attention from the main goals; besides, it takes up too much of their time.2121. Dewanti LP, Februhartanty J, Roshita A, Dewanti LP. Online mother support group: the new way of peer support for improving breastfeeding performance. J Health Educ. 2019;4:22-8. https://doi.org/10.15294/jhe.v4i1.29407
https://doi.org/10.15294/jhe.v4i1.29407...

The most consumed themes/contents in the internet by the mothers are information about themselves or their children, and especially about breastfeeding,99. Nascimento MB. Equipamentos e tecnologia em amamentação. In: Carvalho MR, Gomes F, editors. Amamentação: bases científicas. 4. ed. Rio de Janeiro: Guanabara Koogan; 2017. p. 298-307.,2525. Dalmaso MS, Bonamigo AW. Online breastfeeding research: between a common sense and the WHO in the digital age. Rev Electron Comun Inf Inov Saude. 2019;13:911-21. https://doi.org/10.29397/reciis.v13i4.1635
https://doi.org/10.29397/reciis.v13i4.16...
pregnancy, delivery, returning to work, food introduction and raising children.88. Aguiar AM, Carvalho S. Redes on-line de apoio à maternidade: empoderamento feminino. In: Carvalho MR, Gomes, F, editors. Amamentação: bases científicas. 4. ed. Rio de Janeiro: Guanabara Koogan; 2017. p. 492-8. Similar data were observed in the studies of our review,1414. Demirci JR, Cohen SM, Parker M, Holmes A, Bogen DL. Access, use, and preferences for technology-based perinatal and breastfeeding support among childbearing women. J Perinat Educ. 2016;25:29-36. https://doi.org/10.1891/1058-1243.25.1.29
https://doi.org/10.1891/1058-1243.25.1.2...
,1717. Wennberg AL, Jonsson S, Janke JZ, Hörnsten Å. Online perceptions of mothers about breastfeeding and introducing formula: qualitative study. JMIR Public Health Surveill. 2017;3:e88. https://doi.org/10.2196/publichealth.8197
https://doi.org/10.2196/publichealth.819...
2323. Wagg AJ, Callanan MM, Hassett A. Online social support group use by breastfeeding mothers: a content analysis. Heliyon. 2019;5:e01245. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2019.e01245
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2019.e...
which showed that the most researched topics were related to pregnancy progress and fetal development, general questions and concerns about pregnancy, use of medications during the reproductive period, labor, delivery, postpartum period and child care, breastfeeding, breastfeeding and health, breastfeeding and work, breastfeeding and medication, milk collection and storage, infant health care, introduction of solid foods and replacements for breast milk.

It is common that women who breastfeed, especially those breastfeeding for the first time, have doubts about their abilities and the way to breastfeed their children. There are many situations related both to the mother and the child that can be in the base of early abandonment of breastfeeding. In the analyzed studies,1414. Demirci JR, Cohen SM, Parker M, Holmes A, Bogen DL. Access, use, and preferences for technology-based perinatal and breastfeeding support among childbearing women. J Perinat Educ. 2016;25:29-36. https://doi.org/10.1891/1058-1243.25.1.29
https://doi.org/10.1891/1058-1243.25.1.2...
,1717. Wennberg AL, Jonsson S, Janke JZ, Hörnsten Å. Online perceptions of mothers about breastfeeding and introducing formula: qualitative study. JMIR Public Health Surveill. 2017;3:e88. https://doi.org/10.2196/publichealth.8197
https://doi.org/10.2196/publichealth.819...
,2020. Bridges N, Howell G, Schmied V. Exploring breastfeeding support on social media. Int Breastfeed J. 2018;13:1-9. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13006-018-0166-9
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13006-018-0166-...
the authors verified that most questions regarded themes that are recognized as some of the main reasons to interrupt breastfeeding (time and frequency, breast refusal, position and placement of the nipple, mastitis, maternal diseases and breastfeeding, human milk storage, dealing with the difficulties of breastfeeding, providing and producing milk).

It is important to mention that women look to clarify their doubts in the social network, and not in the traditional medical services. In this sense, this is a warning for health professionals to participate in these spaces and reach the mothers88. Aguiar AM, Carvalho S. Redes on-line de apoio à maternidade: empoderamento feminino. In: Carvalho MR, Gomes, F, editors. Amamentação: bases científicas. 4. ed. Rio de Janeiro: Guanabara Koogan; 2017. p. 492-8., thus providing clarifications about the adequate techniques and the previous preparation for the difficulties that may come with breastfeeding.2626. Galvão DM, Cardoso CM. Enfermeiros especialistas em enfermagem de saúde infantil e pediatria e promoção da amamentação após o regresso ao trabalho. Infad Psicol Infanc Adolesc. 2017;1:153-62. https://doi.org/10.17060/ijodaep.2017.n1.v3.1020
https://doi.org/10.17060/ijodaep.2017.n1...
Knowing the social media addressed to the women is very important, so that one can identify the most influential individuals and understand the interaction of these people with the women in the breastfeeding process.2727. Primo CC, Dutra PR, Lima EF, Alvarenga SC, Leite FM. Social networks that support women during breastfeeding. Cogitare Enferm. 2015;20:426-33. http://dx.doi.org/10.5380/ce.v20i2.37453
http://dx.doi.org/10.5380/ce.v20i2.37453...
A suggestion for future studies is the development of analyses that evaluate the interventions carried out by health professionals in online social support groups to support breastfeeding.2323. Wagg AJ, Callanan MM, Hassett A. Online social support group use by breastfeeding mothers: a content analysis. Heliyon. 2019;5:e01245. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2019.e01245
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2019.e...

Finally, as a limitation of this review, we mention that the results reveal the reality of specific sociocultural contexts in the countries where these studies were conducted. Besides, the fact that the studies were mostly qualitative and had a great variety of contents published in the social media made it difficult to conduct a more comparable analysis.

  • Funding
    The study did not receive any funding.

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    » https://doi.org/10.33448/rsd-v9i1.1864
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    » https://doi.org/10.29397/reciis.v13i4.1635
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    » http://dx.doi.org/10.5380/ce.v20i2.37453

Publication Dates

  • Publication in this collection
    01 Sept 2021
  • Date of issue
    2022

History

  • Received
    01 July 2020
  • Accepted
    04 Oct 2020
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