Intensify public awareness of direct breastfeeding for healthful generation: Community support strategies

Direct breastfeeding plays a crucial role in developing a healthy and high-quality generation. Despite its scientifically proven benefits, awareness and practice of direct breastfeeding in society remain suboptimal. This study aims to analyze strategies for increasing public awareness about the importance of direct breastfeeding and identify factors influencing successful breastfeeding practices. The method used is a systematic literature review analyzing various direct breastfeeding research published in the last decade. The results show that low direct breastfeeding rates are influenced by several key factors, including lack of understanding about breast milk benefits, minimal family and workplace support, and circulation of misconceptions about breastfeeding. Effective awareness programs need to involve various stakeholders, including healthcare workers, community leaders, and mass media. Recommended interventions include prenatal education about direct breastfeeding benefits, formation of breastfeeding support groups at the community level, breastfeeding skills training for pregnant and nursing mothers, and policy advocacy supporting breastfeeding practices in the workplace. The comprehensive and sustainable implementation of these strategies is expected to increase public awareness about the importance of direct breastfeeding, ultimately contributing to the development of a healthier, smarter, and higher-quality future generation.