Parents' Transcultural Attitudes and Knowledge Concerning Human Milk Exchange: A Qualitative Systematic Review and Meta‐Aggregation
- 1Charité – University Medical Center Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt Universität zu Berlin Institute of Clinical Nursing Science Berlin Germany
- 2Charité – University Medical Center Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt Universität zu Berlin Department of Gynecology including center of oncological surgery (CVK) Berlin Germany
Abstract
If mother's own milk (MOM) is unavailable or insufficient, human milk exchange (HME) on a formal, informal, or commodified basis may be considered. Religion and culture are critical to human milk banking opinions. The review aims to understand parents' transcultural knowledge and attitudes towards HME. The Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) meta‐aggregation approach was used to synthesize the qualitive evidence. The comprehensive search strategy encompassed systematic research within four databases, hand searching, free web searching, citation searching, and contacting authors. Identified papers were evaluated with the JBI Critical Appraisal Checklist for Qualitative Research. Confidence in the synthesized findings was rated using ConQual. Twenty‐four primary studies were included. These concerned formal, informal, mixed, and unknown HME types. In total, 162 findings were summarized into 16 categories and four synthesized findings. All synthesized findings achieved a moderate ConQual score. HME attitudes and knowledge are informed by religious beliefs, especially milk kinship, and cultural needs, particularly myths. Cultural and religious preferences regarding dyad formation between donor and recipient demonstrate how attitudes and knowledge shape HME acceptance. The identified networks constitute the social context in which attitudes and knowledge develop. Various religious traditions and cultural needs which shape attitudes and knowledge about HME were identified. Heterogeneity within social groups should be considered. Researchers should investigate migration, gender dynamics, and myths. Healthcare professionals (HCP) should consider misconceptions, cultural and religious needs, and social circles. Policymakers should consider developing types of human milk bank (HMB) which are religion‐ and culture‐sensitive.
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BibTeX
@article{will2026parents,
title = {{Parents' Transcultural Attitudes and Knowledge Concerning Human Milk Exchange: A Qualitative Systematic Review and Meta‐Aggregation}},
author = {Julia Will and Vivian Kirchhoff and Julia Lühnen and Jalid Sehouli and Antje Tannen},
journal = {Maternal \& Child Nutrition},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1111/mcn.70278},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1111/mcn.70278},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Parents' Transcultural Attitudes and Knowledge Concerning Human Milk Exchange: A Qualitative Systematic Review and Meta‐Aggregation
AU - Julia Will
AU - Vivian Kirchhoff
AU - Julia Lühnen
AU - Jalid Sehouli
AU - Antje Tannen
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/27
JO - Maternal & Child Nutrition
DO - 10.1111/mcn.70278
UR - https://doi.org/10.1111/mcn.70278
AB - If mother's own milk (MOM) is unavailable or insufficient, human milk exchange (HME) on a formal, informal, or commodified basis may be considered. Religion and culture are critical to human milk banking opinions. The review aims to understand parents' transcultural knowledge and attitudes towards HME. The Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) meta‐aggregation approach was used to synthesize the qualitive evidence. The comprehensive search strategy encompassed systematic research within four databases, hand searching, free web searching, citation searching, and contacting authors. Identified papers were evaluated with the JBI Critical Appraisal Checklist for Qualitative Research. Confidence in the synthesized findings was rated using ConQual. Twenty‐four primary studies were included. These concerned formal, informal, mixed, and unknown HME types. In total, 162 findings were summarized into 16 categories and four synthesized findings. All synthesized findings achieved a moderate ConQual score. HME attitudes and knowledge are informed by religious beliefs, especially milk kinship, and cultural needs, particularly myths. Cultural and religious preferences regarding dyad formation between donor and recipient demonstrate how attitudes and knowledge shape HME acceptance. The identified networks constitute the social context in which attitudes and knowledge develop. Various religious traditions and cultural needs which shape attitudes and knowledge about HME were identified. Heterogeneity within social groups should be considered. Researchers should investigate migration, gender dynamics, and myths. Healthcare professionals (HCP) should consider misconceptions, cultural and religious needs, and social circles. Policymakers should consider developing types of human milk bank (HMB) which are religion‐ and culture‐sensitive.
SN - 1740-8695
SN - 1740-8709
ER -