title: Breast-feeding support in Ireland: a qualitative study of health-care professionals' and women's views.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine women's experience of professional support for breast-feeding and health-care professionals' experience of providing support.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted semi-structured qualitative interviews among women with experience of breast-feeding and health-care professionals with infant feeding roles. Interviews with women were designed to explore their experience of support for breast-feeding antenatally, in hospital and postnatally. Interviews with health-care professionals were designed to explore their views on their role and experience in providing breast-feeding support. Interview transcripts were analysed using content analysis and aspects of Grounded Theory. Overarching themes and categories within the two sets were identified.
  
  
  METHODS
  Urban and suburban areas of North Dublin, Ireland.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-two women all of whom had experience of breast-feeding and fifty-eight health-care professionals.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two overarching themes emerged and in each of these a number of categories were developed: theme 1, facilitators to breast-feeding support, within which being facilitated to breast-feed, having the right person at the right time, being discerning and breast-feeding support groups were discussed; and theme 2, barriers to breast-feeding support, within which time, conflicting information, medicalisation of breast-feeding and the role of health-care professionals in providing support for breast-feeding were discussed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Breast-feeding is being placed within a medical model of care in Ireland which is dependent on health-care professionals. There is a need for training around breast-feeding for all health-care professionals; however, they are limited in their support due to external barriers such as lack of time. Alternative support such as peer support workers should be provided.
authors.affiliation: 1School of Health and Related Research,University of Sheffield,Regent Court,30 Regent Street,Sheffield S1 4DA,UK.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Whelan
authors.affiliation: 2School of Biological Sciences,Dublin Institute of Technology,Dublin,Republic of Ireland.
authors.forename: John M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Kearney
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001942:Breast Feeding; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006282:Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D007494:Ireland; D008875:Middle Aged; D012944:Social Support
keywords: Breast-feeding; Ireland; Mothers’ experience; Professional support