Abstract Background Neonatal jaundice (NNJ) management protocols and perceptions on NNJ could play important roles in establishing and sustaining breastfeeding. This study aimed to assess how the monitoring and management of NNJ impacts on breastfeeding among Hong Kong Chinese.Methods We extracted and collated interview content related to NNJ, its management and impact on breastfeeding in public and private healthcare sectors from a qualitative study focusing on barriers and facilitators to sustain exclusive breastfeeding among paediatricians, obstetricians, doctors from Maternal and Child Health Centres, midwives, nurses and private lactation consultants.Results From the sharing of twenty-two participants, we identified cultural- and setting-specific barriers to sustaining breastfeeding related to NNJ. Misconceptions about the causes and concerns about the consequences of NNJ among both mothers and healthcare providers was linked with infant formula supplementation to both prevent and treat NNJ in Hong Kong. In baby-friendly public healthcare sectors, barriers to breastfeeding may arise from time-consuming and perceived over-cautious NNJ monitoring as well as mother-baby separation during hospitalisation for phototherapy.Conclusions Opportunities to further support breastfeeding could be achieved through baby-friendly prevention and management of NNJ at individual, institution, and policy levels, including baby-friendly accreditation of private hospitals in Hong Kong.
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Hui et al. (2024) studied this question.
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