Experiences of breastfeeding among mothers of preterm infants during their infants’ hospital stay: a qualitative systematic review protocol

Objective: The objective of this review is to synthesize the existing qualitative evidence on the breastfeeding experiences of mothers of hospitalized preterm infants. Introduction: Breastfeeding is crucial for the well-being and development of preterm infants born before 37 weeks’ gestation. Mothers of preterm infants often face challenges that make breastfeeding particularly complex. Understanding mothers’ breastfeeding experience is important for health care professionals, as it enables them to provide appropriate support and assistance. The qualitative evidence synthesis regarding the breastfeeding experiences of mothers of preterm infants in hospital settings is a valuable area of research that has not been documented. Inclusion criteria: This review will consider all qualitative studies that explore mothers’ experiences of breastfeeding and mother’s own milk management for their hospitalized infants. Mothers of preterm infants who provide their own milk to their infants will be considered, regardless of their age, gravidity, parity, singleton/multiple pregnancies, gender identity, marital status, social status, or preterm infant's gestational age. Methods: This review will follow the JBI approach for qualitative systematic review. The search strategy aims to find both published and unpublished studies, with no date limit. A search of PubMed, CINAHL (EBSCOhost), and Embase (EBSCOhost) will be undertaken to identify articles on the topic. Studies published in English will be considered for inclusion in this review. Two independent reviewers will evaluate the methodological validity of the selected papers before incorporating them into the review. Data synthesis will be conducted using the meta-aggregation approach, and synthesized findings will be assessed using the ConQual approach. Review registration: PROSPERO CRD42024501454