Published online Mar 9, 2024. doi: 10.5409/wjcp.v13.i1.89086
Peer-review started: October 20, 2023
First decision: December 29, 2023
Revised: January 6, 2024
Accepted: February 18, 2024
Article in press: February 18, 2024
Published online: March 9, 2024
Processing time: 139 Days and 2.5 Hours
A progressive decrease in exclusive breastfeeding (BF) is observed in Latin America and the Caribbean compared with global results. The possibility of being breastfed and continuing BF for > 6 months is lower in low birth weight than in healthy-weight infants.
To identify factors associated with BF maintenance and promotion, with particular attention to low- and middle-income countries, by studying geographic, socioeconomic, and individual or neonatal health factors.
A scoping review was conducted in 2018 using the conceptual model of social determinants of health published by the Commission on Equity and Health Inequalities in the United States. The extracted data with common characteristics were synthesized and categorized into two main themes: (1) Sociodemographic factors and proximal determinants involved in the initiation and maintenance of BF in low-birth-weight term infants in Latin America; and (2) individual characteristics related to the self-efficacy capacity for BF maintenance and adherence in low-birth-weight term infants.
This study identified maternal age, educational level, maternal economic capacity, social stratum, exposure to BF substitutes, access to BF information, and quality of health services as mediators for maintaining BF.
Individual self-efficacy factors that enable BF adherence in at-risk populations should be analyzed for better health outcomes.
Core Tip: Analyzing sociodemographic and individual conditions for maintaining breastfeeding (BF) is fundamental for meeting the second sustainable developmental goal. However, analysis of the feeding behavior in low-birth-weight term newborns in Latin America is limited. Few studies have assessed the mediating factors for BF maintenance, paving the way for the challenges faced by at-risk populations, mainly in developing countries. Evidence-based interventions should be based on an understanding of the social and individual factors affecting feeding practices for at-risk populations.