Table 3.

Types of breastfeeding support programmes

Dimension	Variation	Supporting reference(s)
(a) Type of implementers of programme	– One‐to‐one support from health professionals (midwives, family physicians, nurses, International Board‐Certified Lactation Consultants, etc.) – Peer group support (drop‐ins, cafes, centres) – Support that is targeted at the core‐family (support for partners, etc.) – Support with no human involvement (books, helplines, websites, leaflets)	Abbass‐Dick et al. (2015), Hoddinott (2006), Kronborg et al. (2008)
(b) Form of communication	– Verbal communication – Written communication – Oral communication (podcasts, etc.) – Visual communication (animation videos, etc.) – Electronic communication (mobile phone text messages, apps, internet, etc.)	D'Auria (2011), Thomas and Shaikh (2012)
(c) Type of component added to the programme	– Educational sessions – Some sort of information provision – Assessment – Supervision – Measures that target the direct relation between mother and baby (breastfeeding immediately after birth, rooming‐in, etc.) – Interventions in case of urgent medical issues (mastitis, etc.) – Advocacy – Encouragement	Beake et al. (2012), Guise et al. (2003), Jaafar, Ho, Jahanfar, et al. (2016), Jaafar, Ho, and Lee (2016), Lynch (2010), Santos et al. (2015)
(d) Time point/period the programme is initiated	– Before conception and early pregnancy – During pregnancy – Immediately after birth – During the first months after birth	Fallon et al. (2016), Hannula et al. (2008)
(e) Persons targeted	– Women – Mothers‐to‐be – First‐time mothers – Socially disadvantaged women (e.g., low‐income) – Women with specific needs	Abdulwadud and Snow (2012), Bonet et al. (2015), Demirtas (2012), Gorman et al. (2009), Heck et al. (2006), Khoury et al. (2005), Kronborg et al. (2015), Lawrence and Lawrence (2005)