Barriers and Facilitators of Exclusive Breastfeeding in Developing Countries: A Scoping Review

Exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months is widely known to benefit both mothers and infants, yet many mothers in developing countries still struggle to follow this practice. This review aims to systematically identify the inhibiting and driving factors of breastfeeding practices in developing countries. A scoping review was conducted following the PRISMA-ScR framework. Literature search was carried out using databases such as PubMed, ScienceDirect, Elsevier, and SpringerLink using keywords such as “exclusive breastfeeding,” “barriers,” “facilitators,” “developing countries,” “LMICs,” and “breastfeeding support.” The inclusion criteria included original research articles published between January 2020 and January 2025, written in English, conducted in developing countries, and employing qualitative, quantitative, or mixed-methods approaches. Of the 742 articles retrieved, 20 met the criteria. The findings revealed that the main barriers were perceived insufficient breast milk supply, health problems, culture, family and work pressures, and inadequate policies. Facilitators included support from family, partners, and health workers, as well as breastfeeding education. Improving health services and support from family, health workers, and workplace, as well as stricter policy enforcement, are essential to promote breastfeeding practices in developing countries.