Population-level communication interventions for breastfeeding: Protocol for a scoping review

The objective for this scoping review is to systematically identify and map the breadth, type, and characteristics of population-level communication interventions on breastfeeding.

Breastfeeding is the human biological norm and is well established to be foundational for health throughout the life course. Population-level communication interventions, or mass communication interventions can support positive social and cultural norms and practices that enable breastfeeding. To inform the development of effective mass communication interventions there is a need to systematically identify, analyse and synthesise the existing evidence to inform such guidance.

We will include evidence on the development, implementation and effectiveness of population-level communications interventions in high development index countries (including traditional mass media, social media or other mass communication interventions) aimed at influencing breastfeeding at scale. We will include empirical evidence from primary studies and evidence synthesis.

We will search databases for primary studies and reviews, written in English language, from 1990 onwards: PubMed, Embase, EBSCO, PsycInfo, MIDIRS and ProQuest. We will conduct forward and reverse citation searching of included studies and reviews and grey literature searches via web searches, OSF, and contact with known authors/ organisations in the field. The search will be undertaken in January/February 2025.Screening and data extraction will be conducted using EPPI reviewer web (ER6), making use of automation tools to support efficiency. Disagreements will be discussed until a consensus is reached or a third author makes a final decision.Data extraction will include information on study location, target and subject populations, message content, message framing, declared conflicts of interest and underlying theory used.