Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41816236›Full record

SynthesisFrontiers in nutrition2026

Nutritional counseling strategies in breastfeeding: a scoping review.

Lenycia de Cassya Lopes Neri, Monica Guglielmetti, Dalma Chiapponi, Simona Fiorini, Cinzia Ferraris

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Frontiers in nutrition, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Lenycia de Cassya Lopes NeriLaboratory of Food Education and Sport Nutrition, Department of Public Health, Experimental and Forensic Medicine, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
Monica GuglielmettiLaboratory of Food Education and Sport Nutrition, Department of Public Health, Experimental and Forensic Medicine, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
Dalma ChiapponiPrivate Practitioner, Livorno, Italy.
Simona FioriniLaboratory of Food Education and Sport Nutrition, Department of Public Health, Experimental and Forensic Medicine, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
Cinzia FerrarisLaboratory of Food Education and Sport Nutrition, Department of Public Health, Experimental and Forensic Medicine, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Breastfeeding provides unparalleled health benefits for infants and mothers, yet exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) rates remain suboptimal worldwide. Nutritional counseling (NC) has been identified as a key strategy to support and sustain breastfeeding, but the scope and effectiveness of such interventions have not been systematically mapped. We conducted a scoping review to identify and synthesize evidence on NC strategies for breastfeeding mothers. Following Arksey & O'Malley's framework and PRISMA-ScR guidelines, we searched PubMed (2015-2025) for studies of prenatal or postnatal counseling interventions aimed at improving breastfeeding outcomes. Twenty-nine studies (RCTs, quasi-experimental, qualitative) from diverse countries were included. Counseling interventions (delivered individually, remotely or face-to-face) were generally associated with higher EBF rates and longer breastfeeding duration. Twelve studies also reported improvements in maternal breastfeeding self-efficacy and reductions in common breastfeeding problems. Mobile-based and peer support interventions showed promising results, especially in low-resource settings. These findings align with current global recommendations on breastfeeding counseling. We discuss implementation challenges (e.g., training needs, definitional clarity) and underline that targeted NC is an effective tool to increase breastfeeding rates. Future work should standardize counseling approaches, expand training for providers, and evaluate long-term impacts and cost-effectiveness.

Indexed as

breastfeedingexclusive breastfeedingmaternal educationnutritional counselingscoping review

Identifiers

PMID41816236
PMCPMC12971422

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.