Curtin University Homepage
  • Library
  • Help
    • Admin

    espace - Curtin’s institutional repository

    JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.
    View Item 
    • espace Home
    • espace
    • Curtin Research Publications
    • View Item
    • espace Home
    • espace
    • Curtin Research Publications
    • View Item

    Women's experiences with breastfeeding in public: An integrative review

    Access Status
    Fulltext not available
    Embargo Lift Date
    2021-05-11
    Authors
    Hauck, Yvonne
    Bradfield, Zoe
    Kuliukas, Lesley
    Date
    2020
    Type
    Journal Article
    
    Metadata
    Show full item record
    Citation
    Hauck, Y.L. and Bradfield, Z. and Kuliukas, L. 2020. Women's experiences with breastfeeding in public: An integrative review. Women and Birth.
    Source Title
    Women and Birth
    DOI
    10.1016/j.wombi.2020.04.008
    ISSN
    1871-5192
    Faculty
    Faculty of Health Sciences
    School
    School of Nursing, Midwifery and Paramedicine
    URI
    http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/81372
    Collection
    • Curtin Research Publications
    Abstract

    © 2020 Australian College of Midwives

    Background: Much evidence around public breastfeeding does not reflect experiences of the key stakeholder, the breastfeeding woman, and focuses upon the audience. Selective evidence has explored breastfeeding experiences revealing challenges with public breastfeeding as a serendipitous finding. Although women's experiences have been explored in specific contexts, insight into commonalities reflective of an international perspective is unknown.

    Objective: to explore, review and synthesise published literature on women's experience with public breastfeeding. Methods: An integrative review allows inclusion of findings beyond empirical evidence. Whittemore and Knafl's approach was used to capture and analyse evidence from varied sources to provide understanding of a phenomenon from diverse methodologies. PubMed, Medline, Ovid emBase, Scopus, Science Direct, the Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature and PsychINFO were searched. Inclusion criteria included publications in English after 2005 offering descriptions of women's experiences. Data evaluation included assessment of literature quality. A constant comparison approach involved comparing, analysing and drawing similar concepts into themes.

    Findings: Integration of women's experience with public breastfeeding from 27 publications covering 12 countries revealed two key themes, what women shared as ‘enhancing’ and ‘challenging’. Challenges included four subthemes: ‘drawing attention’, ‘sexualisation of breasts’, ‘awareness of others’ discomfort’, and ‘efforts not to be seen’. Enhancing incorporated subthemes: ‘supportive audience’ and ‘confidence’.

    Conclusion: Challenges confirm an international commonality that women encounter during public breastfeeding suggesting a multilayered approach addressing community and societal behaviours is required. Insight to enhance public breastfeeding experiences offers direction to improve support.

    Related items

    Showing items related by title, author, creator and subject.

    • Breastfeeding and perceptions of breast shape changes in Australian and Japanese women
      Inoue, Madoka (2012)
      This thesis examines infant feeding practices, including knowledge and attitudes towards breastfeeding, factors that influence the duration of breastfeeding, and breastfeeding outcomes in relation to postpartum women’s ...
    • Helpful and challenging aspects of breastfeeding in public for women living in Australia, Ireland and Sweden: A cross-sectional study
      Hauck, Yvonne ; Kuliukas, Lesley ; Gallagher, L.; Brady, V.; Dykes, C.; Rubertsson, C. (2020)
      Background: Breastfeeding in public continues to be contentious with qualitative evidence confirming that women face many challenges. It is therefore important to gain understanding of not only the challenges but also ...
    • Perspectives and attitudes of breastfeeding women using herbal galactagogues during breastfeeding: a qualitative study
      Sim, Tin Fei; Hattingh, H. Laetitia; Sherriff, Jill; Tee, Lisa (2014)
      Some herbal galactagogues have gained reputation and recognition by the public and health professionals as alternative approaches to increase breast milk supply. This study explores the perspectives and attitudes of ...
    Advanced search

    Browse

    Communities & CollectionsIssue DateAuthorTitleSubjectDocument TypeThis CollectionIssue DateAuthorTitleSubjectDocument Type

    My Account

    Admin

    Statistics

    Most Popular ItemsStatistics by CountryMost Popular Authors

    Follow Curtin

    • 
    • 
    • 
    • 
    • 

    CRICOS Provider Code: 00301JABN: 99 143 842 569TEQSA: PRV12158

    Copyright | Disclaimer | Privacy statement | Accessibility

    Curtin University would like to pay our respect to the indigenous members of our community by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land on which the Perth Campus is located, the Wadjuk people of the Nyungar Nation; and on our Kalgoorlie Campus, the Wongutha people of the North-Eastern Goldfields.
    Watch our traditional Aboriginal welcome