A Scoping Review of Breastfeeding Interventions Conducted in the Republic of Türkiye and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus

Objective: Breastfeeding (BF) is essential for maternal and child health, yet disparities persist in initiation, exclusivity, and duration. Despite cultural and policy support in Türkiye and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, challenges such as inconsistent hospital practices, early formula supplementation, and limited workplace accommodations hinder optimal BF out comes. Understanding the effectiveness of BF interventions in these regions is key to improving maternal and infant health. This review is aimed to identify and synthesize BF interventions and their outcomes in Türkiye and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

Materials and Methods: A scoping review was conducted following PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses)-ScR Guidelines, searching 14 electronic databases for English-language peer-reviewed studies published between 2010 and September 2024. Studies assessing individual-, community-, institutional-, and policy-level interventions were included.

Results: Twenty-nine studies met the inclusion criteria. Interventions fell into 4 categories: educational programs, hospital-based initiatives, digital BF support, and community-driven efforts. Most interventions led to increased exclusive BF rates, BF self-efficacy, early BF ini tiation, and improved maternal psychosocial well-being. However, challenges persisted in Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) implementation, lactation support accessibility, and workplace accommodations.

Conclusion: Multifaceted, context-specific interventions are most effective for sustaining BF practices, yet regional gaps and policy inconsistencies remain, particularly in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. Strengthening BFHI adherence, expanding digital lactation sup port, improving workplace policies, and addressing regional disparities can enhance BF out comes and align with global health priorities.

Cite this article as: Ballout S, Aboul-Enein BH, Yesilcinar I, Kelly PJ. A scoping review of breastfeeding interventions conducted in the Republic of Türkiye and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. Turk Arch Pediatr. Published online November 20, 2025. doi:10.5152/TurkArchPediatr.2025.25122.