The Role of Nurses in Promoting Breastfeeding: Encouragement, Adherence, and Challenges for Maternal and Child Health
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.36489/saudecoletiva.2026v17i104p19204-19223Keywords:
Breastfeeding, Nursing, Health Promotion, Primary Health Care, Maternal and Child HealthAbstract
Introduction: Breastfeeding is essential for maternal and child health, promoting healthy infant development and strengthening the bond between mother and child. However, several challenges—such as lack of information, difficulties with proper latch, and sociocultural factors—negatively affect adherence to breastfeeding. Nurses play a crucial role in encouraging, guiding, and supporting breastfeeding from the prenatal period through the puerperium. Objective: To analyze the influence of nurses on the promotion and adherence to breastfeeding, highlighting the main strategies employed, the challenges faced, and their contributions to maternal and child health. Materials and Methods: This is an integrative literature review conducted using scientific databases, including SciELO, BVS, PubMed, BDENF, LILACS, CINAHL, Web of Science, and Cochrane. The search was carried out between February and April 2025 using descriptors related to breastfeeding, nursing, and maternal and child health. Ten articles published between 2020 and 2025, available in full text and written in Portuguese or English, were included. Results and Discussion: The analysis demonstrated that nurses’ involvement in breastfeeding promotion is fundamental to improving exclusive breastfeeding rates. Actions such as prenatal guidance, postpartum support, early identification of breastfeeding difficulties, and emotional support directly impact maternal adherence. However, challenges such as insufficient professional training, high workload, and cultural myths continue to hinder the effective implementation of these strategies. Strengthening public policies and continuous professional education for nurses are essential to improve this scenario. Final Considerations/Conclusion: The study highlights the importance of nurses in promoting breastfeeding, emphasizing effective strategies, existing challenges, and their contribution to maternal and child health. It reinforces the need for professional recognition and the strengthening of public policies that support breastfeeding.
References
BRASIL. Ministério da Saúde. Estratégias para a promoção, proteção e apoio ao aleitamento materno e à alimentação complementar saudável. Brasília: Ministério da Saúde, 2019. Disponível em: https://bvsms.saude.gov.br/bvs/publicacoes/estrategias_promocao_apoio_alei tamento_materno.pdf. Acesso em: 09 maio 2025.
CARVALHO, M. L. C. et al. Fatores associados à amamentação exclusiva até os seis meses de idade. Revista Brasileira de Saúde Materno Infantil, v. 20, n. 4, p. 1239-1248, 2020. Disponível em: https://www.scielo.br/j/rbsmi/a/sG9Vx7Xz7Z5B9N7FmQ8ZKks/?lang=pt. Acesso em: 09 maio 2025.
CHRISTOFFEL, Marialda Moreira et al. Exclusive breastfeeding and professionals from the family health strategy. Revista Brasileira de Enfermagem, [S.L.], v. 75, n. 3, p. 1-5, jul. 2022. FapUNIFESP (SciELO). http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/0034-7167-2020-0545. Disponível em: https://www.scielo.br/j/reben/a/Xs4TthypGjZpzDtpYLqvjrp/?lang=en. Acesso em: 23 abr. 2025.
DINIZ, C. A. et al. A importância do suporte familiar no aleitamento materno: uma revisão integrativa. Revista de Enfermagem UFPE on line, v. 14, n. 5, p. e243567, 2020. Disponível em: https://periodicos.ufpe.br/revistas/revistaenfermagem/article/view/243567. Acesso em: 02 maio 2025.
GARCÉS, Mónica Guadalupe Paredes et al. The role of nursing in breastfeeding in hospitalized neonates. Sapienza: International Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies, [S.L.], v. 4, n. 4, p. 23058-23062, 26 dez. 2023. Sapienza: International Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies.
http://dx.doi.org/10.51798/sijis.v4i4.715. Disponivel em: https://journals.sapienzaedi torial.com/index.php/SIJIS/article/view/715. Acesso em: 20 mar. 2025.
IOPP, Patricia Hoffmann et al. A ATUAÇÃO DO ENFERMEIRO NA PROMOÇÃO, INCENTIVO E MANEJO DO ALEITAMENTO MATERNO. Enfermagem em Foco, [S.L.], v. 14, n. 1, p. 1-10, jun. 2023. Conselho Federal de Enfermagem - Cofen. http://dx.doi.org/10.21675/2357-707x.2023.v14.e-202344. Disponível em: https://enfermfoco. org/article/a-atuacao-do-enfermeiro-na-promocao-incentivo-e-manejo-do-aleitamento.matern o/. Acesso em: 11 mar. 2025.
LIRA, P. I. C. et al. A atuação do enfermeiro no suporte à amamentação na atenção primária à saúde. Revista Ciência & Saúde Coletiva, v. 24, n. 6, p. 2331-2340, 2019. Disponível em: https://www.scielo.br/j/csc/a/hqW7MnXTPzBt3WnqxZnrLmQ/?lang=pt. Acesso em: 03 maio 2025.
NORA, Ana Carolina Almeida de; DIAZ, Kátia Chagas Marques. O ENFERMEIRO NA PROMOÇÃO DO ALEITAMENTO MATERNO E OS BENEFÍCIOS PARA SAÚDE DO
BEBÊ. Revista Ibero-Americana de Humanidades, Ciências e Educação — Rease, [S. L.], v. 30, n. 1, p. 6725-6741, nov. 2024. Disponível em: doi.org/10.51891/rease.v10i11.17090. Acesso em: 11 abr. 2025.
OLIVEIRA, M. C. et al. Barreiras e facilitadores para a amamentação exclusiva em áreas urbanas e rurais. Cadernos de Saúde Pública, v. 36, n. 2, p. e00074118, 2020. Disponível em: https://www.scielo.br/j/csp/a/FnXsZgM6JhyvRQ6Vr6LnNHZ/?lang=pt. Acesso em: 03 maio 2025.
SANTIAGO, Laura Silva et al. O papel do enfermeiro na promoção do aleitamento materno. Contribuciones A Las Ciencias Sociales, [S.L.], v. 17, n. 12, p. 12842-12862, 21 nov. 2024. Brazilian Journals. http://dx.doi.org/10.55905/revconv.17n.12-236. Disponível em: https://ojs.revistacontribuciones.com/ojs/index.php/clcs/article/view/12842. Acesso em: 06 abr. 2025.
SILVA, Clariana Falcão et al. Implicações da pandemia da COVID-19 no aleitamento materno e na promoção da saúde. Ciência & Saúde Coletiva, [S.L.], v. 28, n. 8, p. 2183-2192, abr. 2023. FapUNIFESP (SciELO). http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/1413-81232023288.05882023. Disponível em: https://www.scielo.br/j/csc/a/DCXsSytH3yDG9TyWFD8rdqm/?format=pdf&lang=pt. Acesso em: 08 abr. 2025.
SILVA, L. M. V. et al. Estratégias de intervenção da enfermagem para promoção do aleitamento materno: uma revisão sistemática. Revista Latino-Americana de Enfermagem, v. 28, p. e3231, 2020. Disponível em: https://www.scielo.br/j/rlae/a/dtxjF7DYQFfZ2WQmgQ MdXfM/?lang=pt. Acesso em: 03 maio 2025.
SOUZA, Silvana Regina Rossi Kissula et al. Aleitamento materno em tempos de COVID-19. Revista da Escola de Enfermagem da Usp, [S.L.], v. 56, n. 1, p. 1-10, 2022. FapUNIFESP (SciELO). http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/1980-220x-reeusp-2021-0556pt. Disponível em: https://www.scielo.br/j/reeusp/a/cSX7LvTtm5s8FmtFTcgqXBc/?lang=pt. Acesso em: 10 abr. 2025.
UHR, Stephanie D. et al. Prelicensure Nursing Students’ Attitudes Regarding Breastfeeding Education. Nursing Education Perspectives, [S.L.], v. 45, n. 3, p. 177-179, 19 set. 2023. Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health). http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/01.nep.0000000000001191. Disponível em: https://journals.lww.com/neponline/abstract/2024/05000/prelicensure_nursing_students__attit udes_regarding.11.aspx. Acesso em: 19 mar. 2025.
VIANA, Marina Delli Zotti Souza et al. Nursing strategies and actions on breastfeeding: integrative review / estratégias e ações do enfermeiro no incentivo ao aleitamento materno. Revista de Pesquisa Cuidado É Fundamental Online, [S.L.], v. 13, p. 1199-1204, 14 jun. 2021. Universidade Federal do Estado do Rio de Janeiro UNIRIO. http://dx.doi.org/10.9789/2175-5361.rpcfo.v13.9236. Disponível em: https://seer.unirio.br/cuidadofundamental/article/view/9236. Acesso em: 19 mar. 2025.
WHO – WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION. Infant and young child feeding: model chapter for textbooks for medical students and allied health professionals. Geneva: WHO, 2021. Disponível em: https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240018389. Acesso em: 02 maio 2025.
YANG, Yuan-Yuan et al. Enhancing the role of nurses in breastfeeding preterm infants†. Frontiers Of Nursing, [S.L.], v. 10, n. 3, p. 255-260, 1 set. 2023. Walter de Gruyter GmbH. http://dx.doi.org/10.2478/fon-2023-0029. Disponível em: https://intapi.sciendo.com/pdf/10.2478/fon-2023-0029. Acesso em: 20 mar. 2025.
