Public health education policies on Breastfeeding: A Systematic literature review using the Methodi Ordinatio
International Journal of Development Research
Public health education policies on Breastfeeding: A Systematic literature review using the Methodi Ordinatio
Received 17th December, 2024; Received in revised form 29th December, 2024; Accepted 07th January, 2025; Published online 27th February, 2025
Copyright©2025, Arantes, B. M. N. and Preuss, L. T. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
This article presents a systematic review of the literature on public health education policies related to breastfeeding. The aim was to identify the main initiatives, evaluating their effectiveness in promoting, protecting, and supporting breastfeeding. The use of the Methodi Ordinatio method allowed for the classification of articles based on impact factor, number of citations, and year of publication, ensuring the selection of relevant studies. From a final portfolio of 16 articles, it was possible to identify that policies supporting breastfeeding in the workplace, such as extended maternity leave and spaces for milk expression, are essential for increasing the duration of breastfeeding. Furthermore, initiatives such as the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (IHAC) and community programs were found to be effective, especially in vulnerable populations. However, the lack of sustained funding for these policies and the absence of long-term monitoring were identified as barriers to their effectiveness. In conclusion, although public policies promoting breastfeeding have made progress, challenges remain, such as insufficient support in the workplace, lack of continuous training for healthcare professionals, and the need to adapt policies to local realities.