Physician Practices and Institutional Support for Breastfeeding During Maternal Hospitalization in Adult Wards: A...

Breastfeeding support in adult wards is often overlooked. We examined physician practices, institutional support, lactation resources, and educational needs during maternal hospitalization in Turkiye.

We conducted an anonymous, web-based cross-sectional survey of physicians working in adult medical and surgical wards in Turkiye between July and August 2025. The 32-item questionnaire assessed clinician characteristics, breastfeeding support practices, institutional support and lactation resources, breastfeeding-related clinical decisions, educational needs, and Baby-Friendly Hospital (BFH) status. Logistic regression was used to estimate adjusted odds ratios for selected outcomes.

Among 419 participants (52.5% female; mean age, 39 ± 10 years; 50.8% medical and 49.2% surgical), 72.3% reported working in a BFH. Female physicians and surgeons were more likely to routinely inquire about breastfeeding (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 3.44, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.06-5.75 and aOR = 2.11, 95% CI: 1.28-3.49, respectively). Institutional support and lactation resources were reported more often in private and BFH settings. Physicians working in private hospitals were less likely to use lactation-specific resources (aOR = 0.30, 95% CI: 0.12-0.78), whereas female physicians were more likely to use them (aOR = 3.07, 95% CI: 1.81-5.21). Recommendations to interrupt breastfeeding after contrast-enhanced imaging was associated with female sex and private hospital setting (aOR = 2.39, 95% CI: 1.28-4.45, and aOR = 6.10, 95% CI: 1.86-20.01, respectively). Perceived adequacy of prior breastfeeding education increased with experience, whereas interest in further training was higher among less experienced physicians.

Breastfeeding support during maternal hospitalization varied across physician and institutional contexts. Gaps were identified in breastfeeding support practices, lactation support and resources, imaging-related counseling, and training needs. Routine documentation, clearer ward policies, reliable lactation support, and targeted education may help standardize care in adult inpatient settings.