Exploring barriers to human milk banking acceptability among nursing mothers in Iran using social cognitive perspectives

This study highlights how reciprocal interactions among personal beliefs, behavioral patterns, and environmental contexts shape the acceptability of HMB among Iranian mothers. To improve uptake, culturally sensitive interventions are essential particularly those involving religious authorities, healthcare professionals, and awareness campaigns to address misconceptions and build trust. Strengthening institutional accessibility and transparency can further promote HMB as a viable feeding option. Future research should also examine the roles of socioeconomic status, healthcare access, and generational differences to broaden the evidence base for culturally adapted HMB policies in Muslim-majority contexts.