Print media coverage of breastfeeding in Great Britain: Positive or negative?
Abstract Media can be a powerful communication tool to promote breastfeeding, influence mothers' breastfeeding behaviour, create positive social norms and generate support among stakeholders and policymakers for breastfeeding. However, negative stories could deter women from starting or continu...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wiley
2023-01-01
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| Series: | Maternal and Child Nutrition |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1111/mcn.13458 |
| _version_ | 1797954759091552256 |
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| author | Rowena Merritt Tamsyn Eida Cara Safon Sally Kendall |
| author_facet | Rowena Merritt Tamsyn Eida Cara Safon Sally Kendall |
| author_sort | Rowena Merritt |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Media can be a powerful communication tool to promote breastfeeding, influence mothers' breastfeeding behaviour, create positive social norms and generate support among stakeholders and policymakers for breastfeeding. However, negative stories could deter women from starting or continuing to breastfeed. This study aimed to describe the breadth and focus of the media coverage of breastfeeding and the message frames that are found in three of the most widely read national newspapers and three popular women's magazines in Great Britain over a 12‐month period, as part of the Becoming Breastfeeding Friendly in Great Britain (BBF‐GB) study. For this retrospective media analysis, 77 articles were identified and 42 were included in the study for coding and analysis. We conducted two content analyses to examine the articles' (1) message framing and (2) alignment with the eight components of an ‘enabling breastfeeding environment’ using the BBF Gear framework. Articles featuring breastfeeding appear in British newspapers and women's magazines all year round. Twenty‐four per cent had a neutral tone, while 59% predominantly focused on the positive aspects or positive social support for breastfeeding, and 17% were predominantly focused on the negative aspects or negative social attitudes towards breastfeeding. The articles mainly focused on personal stories reflecting societal barriers and positive shifts (68%), with 12% presenting an analysis of breastfeeding evidence or barriers. There were fewer references to the legislation (5%) and availability of funding (2%) and support (9%). There was no coverage of national coordination and strategy, evaluation systems, or the political will to raise breastfeeding rates. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T23:22:33Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ec2cf68a1b124057a8d8aa04c2cf0a4d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1740-8695 1740-8709 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T23:22:33Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Maternal and Child Nutrition |
| spelling | doaj.art-ec2cf68a1b124057a8d8aa04c2cf0a4d2023-01-12T13:34:26ZengWileyMaternal and Child Nutrition1740-86951740-87092023-01-0119S1n/an/a10.1111/mcn.13458Print media coverage of breastfeeding in Great Britain: Positive or negative?Rowena Merritt0Tamsyn Eida1Cara Safon2Sally Kendall3Centre for Health Services Studies University of Kent Canterbury UKCentre for Health Services Studies University of Kent Canterbury UKDepartment of Health Law, Policy, and Management BUSPH Boston Massachussetts USACentre for Health Services Studies University of Kent Canterbury UKAbstract Media can be a powerful communication tool to promote breastfeeding, influence mothers' breastfeeding behaviour, create positive social norms and generate support among stakeholders and policymakers for breastfeeding. However, negative stories could deter women from starting or continuing to breastfeed. This study aimed to describe the breadth and focus of the media coverage of breastfeeding and the message frames that are found in three of the most widely read national newspapers and three popular women's magazines in Great Britain over a 12‐month period, as part of the Becoming Breastfeeding Friendly in Great Britain (BBF‐GB) study. For this retrospective media analysis, 77 articles were identified and 42 were included in the study for coding and analysis. We conducted two content analyses to examine the articles' (1) message framing and (2) alignment with the eight components of an ‘enabling breastfeeding environment’ using the BBF Gear framework. Articles featuring breastfeeding appear in British newspapers and women's magazines all year round. Twenty‐four per cent had a neutral tone, while 59% predominantly focused on the positive aspects or positive social support for breastfeeding, and 17% were predominantly focused on the negative aspects or negative social attitudes towards breastfeeding. The articles mainly focused on personal stories reflecting societal barriers and positive shifts (68%), with 12% presenting an analysis of breastfeeding evidence or barriers. There were fewer references to the legislation (5%) and availability of funding (2%) and support (9%). There was no coverage of national coordination and strategy, evaluation systems, or the political will to raise breastfeeding rates.https://doi.org/10.1111/mcn.13458breastfeedingBritainmedia |
| spellingShingle | Rowena Merritt Tamsyn Eida Cara Safon Sally Kendall Print media coverage of breastfeeding in Great Britain: Positive or negative? Maternal and Child Nutrition breastfeeding Britain media |
| title | Print media coverage of breastfeeding in Great Britain: Positive or negative? |
| title_full | Print media coverage of breastfeeding in Great Britain: Positive or negative? |
| title_fullStr | Print media coverage of breastfeeding in Great Britain: Positive or negative? |
| title_full_unstemmed | Print media coverage of breastfeeding in Great Britain: Positive or negative? |
| title_short | Print media coverage of breastfeeding in Great Britain: Positive or negative? |
| title_sort | print media coverage of breastfeeding in great britain positive or negative |
| topic | breastfeeding Britain media |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1111/mcn.13458 |
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