Effects of Housing Insecurity on Breastfeeding: A Scoping Review

Objective: Breastfeeding is essential to save the lives of young children; however, housing insecurity has been connected to a lower likelihood of commencing or continuing to breastfeed because of the numerous barriers it creates for breastfeeding mothers. Housing insecurity and household conditions are one of the social determinants that influence the initiation, duration, and exclusivity of breastfeeding. To analyze the housing-related vulnerability of breastfeeding mothers, this review examines the impact of housing and living conditions on the breastfeeding practices of mothers and presents housing-related factors that negatively affect the maternal decision to breastfeed. Methods: This scoping review was undertaken using four major databases, including JSTOR, EBSCO, PubMed, and OVID Medline. Evidence-based articles were searched without placing any restrictions on the year of publication or geographic location. A total of 18 articles published until 2022 were included in the scoping review. Results: This review suggests that multiple factors associated with housing impacts the maternal intent and duration of breastfeeding. The housing factors that directly and indirectly affect breastfeeding practices include the type of housing, stress related to housing, housing conditions, unfair allocation of housing, social support in households and neighborhoods, safe space to breastfeed, and homelessness after the catastrophe. Conclusions: Demographic characteristics of breastfeeding mothers must be examined, and mothers facing housing insecurity must be offered need-based support, guidance, and breastfeeding counseling. Creating and improving screening techniques that recognize the complexity of housing instability is necessary, particularly for communities most at risk for nonexclusive breastfeeding. The systemic barriers to breastfeeding related to housing can be reduced by collaborating with patient partners, communities, interdisciplinary healthcare providers, policymakers, and government and nongovernmental organizations.