Background & aim: Breastfeeding is an important strategy to ensure health promotion and wellbeing. Breastfeeding rates have consistently decreased around the world, and therefore protection, promotion, and support of breastfeeding is considered as one of public health priorities. This study aimed to explore breastfeeding mothers’ perceptions and experiences of instrumental support needs.
Methods: This study was performed between March 2019 and April 2021, in five health centers and four hospitals affiliated to Mashhad University of Medical Sciences. Participants were 23 breastfeeding mothers, two family members, and 11 healthcare providers, who were selected using a purposive sampling method and attended in individual semi-structured in-depth interviews. Data were analyzed using directed content analysis based on the Elo and Kyngas approach, with MAXQDA software (version 2010).
Results: Five categories of mothers’ instrumental support needs emerged: ‘facilitating maternal roles’, ‘supplying necessary items’, ‘providing welfare services’, ‘cultural services’ and ‘healthcare services’.
Conclusion: Breastfeeding mothers need various forms of instrumental support to facilitate and sustain breastfeeding. . Significant others, such as the husband, family members, health providers, and broader social and institutional systems play an important role in addressing these needs.