{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,20]],"date-time":"2026-08-20T09:26:37Z","timestamp":1787217997914,"version":"build-2736575974"},"reference-count":49,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"8","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,20]],"date-time":"2026-08-20T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1787184000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Nurs. Rep.","Nursing Reports"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background: The World Health Organization recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life, with continued breastfeeding alongside complementary feeding up to two years or beyond. However, many mothers are unable to meet their breastfeeding expectations, resulting in a significant emotional impact shaped by social, cultural, and occupational factors. Objective: The aim of this study was to explore mothers\u2019 perceptions and experiences of desired but unattained breastfeeding, with particular attention to its cultural\u2013religious dimension. Methods: A qualitative descriptive study within an interpretivist paradigm was conducted between September 2024 and February 2025. Thirty women (15 Christian and 15 Muslim) receiving care from a primary care midwife in a Spanish city in North Africa participated. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analysed using inductive thematic analysis following Braun and Clarke\u2019s approach. Results: Four main themes were identified: (1) emotional experiences and feelings, (2) reasons for breastfeeding discontinuation, (3) contextual and structural barriers, and (4) the influence of the social environment and support networks. Although both groups shared emotions such as guilt, frustration, and sadness, some differences were observed in how breastfeeding discontinuation was interpreted and experienced within this sample. Several Muslim participants expressed distress in relation to maternal identity and perceived maternal inadequacy, whereas several Christian participants more frequently emphasised contextual factors such as perceived lack of support or social pressure. Conclusions: The experience of desired but unattained breastfeeding is complex and may be shaped by cultural\u2013religious context alongside individual, social, and structural factors. Integrating a transcultural approach into healthcare provision may improve emotional support and help reduce the burden of guilt and distress associated with breastfeeding discontinuation.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/nursrep16080291","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,20]],"date-time":"2026-08-20T08:10:20Z","timestamp":1787213420000},"page":"291","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Desired but Unattained Breastfeeding: A Qualitative Exploration of Maternal Perceptions in a Cultural\u2013Religious Context"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"16","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0000-6464-4057","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Eva Carolina","family":"Rodr\u00edguez-Huam\u00e1n","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Women\u2019s Health Unit, Melilla, c\/Cuerpo Nacional de Polic\u00eda 4, 52004 Melilla, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-1873-1795","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Mar\u00eda Angustias","family":"S\u00e1nchez-Ojeda","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences of Melilla, University of Granada, c\/Santander 1, 52005 Melilla, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0002-0840-6657","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Providencia Juana","family":"Trujillo-Mu\u00f1oz","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences of Melilla, University of Granada, c\/Santander 1, 52005 Melilla, Spain"},{"name":"Melilla University Hospital, c\/Luis de Ost\u00e1riz 12, 52005 Melilla, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0007-7865-4556","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Karima","family":"Mezyani-Haddu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Melilla University Hospital, c\/Luis de Ost\u00e1riz 12, 52005 Melilla, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0007-7635-1201","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Irene","family":"Hoyo-Guillot","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences of Melilla, University of Granada, c\/Santander 1, 52005 Melilla, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-9713-2864","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Silvia","family":"Navarro-Prado","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences of Melilla, University of Granada, c\/Santander 1, 52005 Melilla, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,20]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"207","DOI":"10.1016\/j.enfcli.2018.11.003","article-title":"Interrupci\u00f3n temprana de la lactancia materna. Un estudio cualitativo","volume":"29","year":"2019","journal-title":"Enferm. Cl\u00edn."},{"key":"ref_2","unstructured":"Ministerio de Salud del Salvador (2025, August 07). Pol\u00edtica de Protecci\u00f3n, Promoci\u00f3n y Apoyo a La Lactancia Materna, Available online: https:\/\/platform.who.int\/docs\/default-source\/mca-documents\/policy-documents\/policy\/SLV-MN-67-02-POLICY-2011-esp-POLITICA-LACTANCIA-MATERNA.pdf."},{"key":"ref_3","first-page":"e20240303","article-title":"Father\u2019s influence on breastfeeding continuity or interruption: Meta-synthesis Influencia del padre en la continuidad o interrupci\u00f3n de la lactancia materna: Metas\u00edntesis","volume":"59","author":"Alvarenga","year":"2025","journal-title":"Rev. Esc. Enferm. USP"},{"key":"ref_4","first-page":"217","article-title":"La culpa de las madres. Promover la lactancia materna sin presionar a las mujeres","volume":"25","author":"Olza","year":"2017","journal-title":"Dilemata"},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Oberfichtner, K., Oppelt, P., Fritz, D., Hrauda, K., Fritz, C., Schildberger, B., Lastinger, J., Stelzl, P., and Enengl, S. (2023). Breastfeeding in Primiparous Women\u2013Expectations and Reality: A Prospective Questionnaire Survey. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth, 23.","DOI":"10.1186\/s12884-023-05971-1"},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e388","DOI":"10.1016\/j.wombi.2023.01.002","article-title":"Breastfeeding in the Pandemic: A Qualitative Analysis of Breastfeeding Experiences among Mothers from Canada and the United Kingdom","volume":"36","author":"Turner","year":"2023","journal-title":"Women Birth"},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"28","DOI":"10.1186\/s13006-023-00566-0","article-title":"Factors Associated with Delayed Initiation and Non-Exclusive Breastfeeding among Children in India: Evidence from National Family Health Survey 2019-21","volume":"18","author":"Sharma","year":"2023","journal-title":"Int. Breastfeed. J."},{"key":"ref_8","first-page":"3","article-title":"Factores socioculturales asociados a la interrupci\u00f3n de la lactancia materna exclusiva en madres con ni\u00f1os menores de 6 meses","volume":"2","year":"2018","journal-title":"Recimundo"},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e32605","DOI":"10.14201\/rlm.32605","article-title":"Lactancia frustrada. Cuando la lactancia dura menos de lo deseado. Revisi\u00f3n sobre la experiencia materna de amamantar","volume":"3","year":"2025","journal-title":"Rev. Lact. Matern."},{"key":"ref_10","first-page":"7","article-title":"Melilla: Ciudad fronteriza internacional e intercontinental","volume":"19","author":"Torres","year":"2007","journal-title":"Front. Norte"},{"key":"ref_11","first-page":"104","article-title":"\u00bfY t\u00fa, das pecho o biber\u00f3n? Narrativas, identidad de g\u00e9nero y lactancia materna","volume":"63","year":"2020","journal-title":"Desacatos Rev. Cienc. Soc."},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3","DOI":"10.1016\/j.midw.2021.103205","article-title":"Maternal Guilt and Shame in the Postpartum Infant Feeding Context: A Concept Analysis","volume":"105","author":"Jackson","year":"2022","journal-title":"Midwifery"},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e13141","DOI":"10.1111\/mcn.13141","article-title":"Guilt, Shame, and Postpartum Infant Feeding Outcomes: A Systematic Review","volume":"17","author":"Jackson","year":"2021","journal-title":"Matern. Child. Nutr."},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Maidana, R.E., Ojeda, N.A., Vera, R.D., Campero, M.N., and Scavuzzo, C.M. (2023). Representaciones sociales respecto a la lactancia humana en aquellas mujeres-madres que decidieron interrumpir la lactancia. Rev. Salud P\u00fablica, 29.","DOI":"10.31052\/1853.1180.v29.n2.40612"},{"key":"ref_15","first-page":"2","article-title":"Experiencias y creencias de madres sobre la lactancia materna exclusiva en una regi\u00f3n de M\u00e9xico","volume":"9","year":"2019","journal-title":"J. Nurs. Health"},{"key":"ref_16","first-page":"17455057221087865","article-title":"Re-Thinking Lactation-Related Nipple Pain and Damage","volume":"18","author":"Douglas","year":"2022","journal-title":"Womens Health"},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"215","DOI":"10.1016\/j.clinthera.2021.11.007","article-title":"Maternal Psychological Distress and Lactation and Breastfeeding Outcomes: A Narrative Review","volume":"44","author":"Nagel","year":"2022","journal-title":"Clin. Ther."},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"104581","DOI":"10.1016\/j.psyneuen.2019.104581","article-title":"Oxytocin during Breastfeeding and Maternal Mood Symptoms","volume":"113","author":"Whitley","year":"2020","journal-title":"Psychoneuroendocrinology"},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Mik\u0161i\u0107, \u0160., Ugle\u0161i\u0107, B., Jakab, J., Holik, D., Milosti\u0107 Srb, A., and Degme\u010di\u0107, D. (2020). Positive Effect of Breastfeeding on Child Development, Anxiety, and Postpartum Depression. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public. Health, 17.","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph17082725"},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"441","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jad.2020.11.080","article-title":"Perinatal Depressive Symptoms and Breastfeeding Behaviors: A Systematic Literature Review and Biosocial Research Agenda","volume":"283","author":"Butler","year":"2021","journal-title":"J. Affect. Disord."},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Gianni, M.L., Bettinelli, M.E., Manfra, P., Sorrentino, G., Bezze, E., Plevani, L., Cavallaro, G., Raffaeli, G., Crippa, B.L., and Colombo, L. (2019). Breastfeeding Difficulties and Risk for Early Breastfeeding Cessation. Nutrients, 11.","DOI":"10.3390\/nu11102266"},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"161","DOI":"10.1097\/NMC.0000000000000909","article-title":"Challenges with Breastfeeding: Pain, Nipple Trauma, and Perceived Insufficient Milk Supply","volume":"48","year":"2023","journal-title":"MCN Am. J. Matern. Nurs."},{"key":"ref_23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"111242","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ijporl.2022.111242","article-title":"Tongue-Tie and Breastfeeding","volume":"160","author":"Wen","year":"2022","journal-title":"Int. J. Pediatr. Otorhinolaryngol."},{"key":"ref_24","first-page":"525","article-title":"Neonatal Hyperbilirubinemia: Evaluation and Treatment","volume":"107","author":"Par","year":"2023","journal-title":"Am. Fam. Physician"},{"key":"ref_25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"70","DOI":"10.1177\/1757975920984216","article-title":"Respectful Maternity Care and Breastfeeding","volume":"28","author":"Ansari","year":"2021","journal-title":"Glob. Health Promot."},{"key":"ref_26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e70195","DOI":"10.1111\/nhs.70195","article-title":"Perceptions on the Reasons Influencing the Choice and Abandonment of Exclusive Breastfeeding in Muslim and Christian Women: A Phenomenological Study","volume":"27","year":"2025","journal-title":"Nurs. Health Sci."},{"key":"ref_27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Tarabeih, M., Sabbah, M., Yahya, O., Bisharat, S., and Awawdi, K. (2025). Factors Contributing to Breastfeeding Cessation Among Arab Women in Israel. Nutrients, 17.","DOI":"10.3390\/nu17040735"},{"key":"ref_28","first-page":"e671","article-title":"Factores cl\u00ednicos y sociodemogr\u00e1ficos en lactantes con destete precoz","volume":"92","year":"2020","journal-title":"Rev. Cuba. Pediatr."},{"key":"ref_29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"101888","DOI":"10.1016\/j.wombi.2025.101888","article-title":"\u201cThey Painted a Rosy View, but I Would Have Preferred to Hear the Reality\u201d-Australian Women\u2019s Experiences of Antenatal Breastfeeding Education","volume":"38","author":"Stein","year":"2025","journal-title":"Women Birth"},{"key":"ref_30","first-page":"37","article-title":"El comienzo de la lactancia materna: Experiencias de madres primerizas postces\u00e1rea en un hospital de Chiclayo\u20132017","volume":"6","year":"2019","journal-title":"ACC CIETNA Rev. Esc. Enferm."},{"key":"ref_31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"20200033","DOI":"10.1098\/rstb.2020.0033","article-title":"Relatively Speaking? Partners\u2019 and Family Members\u2019 Views and Experiences of Supporting Breastfeeding: A Systematic Review of Qualitative Evidence","volume":"376","author":"Chang","year":"2021","journal-title":"Philos. Trans. R. Soc. B Biol. Sci."},{"key":"ref_32","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"393","DOI":"10.1016\/j.clinthera.2020.01.019","article-title":"Medication Use During Lactation: Either a Potential Contributor to Premature Weaning or Evidence-Based Support of the Mother\/Child Couplet","volume":"42","author":"Hanley","year":"2020","journal-title":"Clin. Ther."},{"key":"ref_33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"70","DOI":"10.3109\/14767058.2012.715034","article-title":"Drugs and Breastfeeding: Instructions for Use","volume":"25","author":"Bertino","year":"2012","journal-title":"J. Matern. Fetal Neonatal Med."},{"key":"ref_34","first-page":"2","article-title":"Desinformaci\u00f3n sobre lactancia materna en contra de los derechos de la infancia y de las mujeres","volume":"39","year":"2025","journal-title":"Gac. Sanit."},{"key":"ref_35","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"116","DOI":"10.1089\/bfm.2017.0184","article-title":"Pediatric Care Providers, Family, and Friends as Sources of Breastfeeding Support Beyond Infancy","volume":"13","author":"Tchaconas","year":"2018","journal-title":"Breastfeed. Med."},{"key":"ref_36","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"101859","DOI":"10.1016\/j.wombi.2024.101859","article-title":"\u201cButterflies in the Air, You\u2019re Now a Breastfeeding Mother\u201d: A Qualitative Study of Women\u2019s Experiences Receiving Postnatal Midwifery Breastfeeding Support","volume":"38","author":"Shipton","year":"2025","journal-title":"Women Birth"},{"key":"ref_37","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"68","DOI":"10.1016\/j.wombi.2021.01.006","article-title":"A Qualitative Descriptive Inquiry into Factors Influencing Early Weaning and Breastfeeding Duration among First-Time Mothers in Papua New Guinea\u2019s Rural Eastern Highlands","volume":"35","author":"Ferguson","year":"2022","journal-title":"Women Birth"},{"key":"ref_38","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e13270","DOI":"10.1111\/mcn.13270","article-title":"Self-conscious Emotions and Breastfeeding Support: A Focused Synthesis of UK Qualitative Research","volume":"18","author":"Leeming","year":"2022","journal-title":"Matern. Child. Nutr."},{"key":"ref_39","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"101904","DOI":"10.1016\/j.wombi.2025.101904","article-title":"Factors and Interventions That Positively Influence Breastfeeding Rates at Six Months Postpartum: An Integrative Literature Review","volume":"38","author":"Whittaker","year":"2025","journal-title":"Women Birth"},{"key":"ref_40","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"515","DOI":"10.1136\/medethics-2016-103833","article-title":"Breastfeeding and Defeasible Duties to Benefit","volume":"43","author":"Woollard","year":"2017","journal-title":"J. Med. Ethics"},{"key":"ref_41","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"434","DOI":"10.1177\/08903344251344906","article-title":"Feelings, Practices, and the Breastfeeding Discourse Among Women of Low Socioeconomic Status","volume":"41","year":"2025","journal-title":"J. Hum. Lact."},{"key":"ref_42","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2","DOI":"10.1016\/j.midw.2022.103579","article-title":"The Effectiveness of Prenatal Breastfeeding Education on Breastfeeding Uptake Postpartum: A Systematic Review","volume":"118","author":"Kehinde","year":"2023","journal-title":"Midwifery"},{"key":"ref_43","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Moreno-\u00c1vila, I.D.M., Mart\u00ednez-Linares, J.M., Mimun-Navarro, K., and Pozo-Mu\u00f1oz, C. (2023). Muslim and Christian Women\u2019s Perceptions of the Influence of Spirituality and Religious Beliefs on Motherhood and Child-Rearing: A Phenomenological Study. Healthcare, 11.","DOI":"10.2139\/ssrn.4462744"},{"key":"ref_44","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"11","DOI":"10.1016\/j.wombi.2022.03.011","article-title":"Factors Influencing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Women\u2019s Breastfeeding Practice: A Scoping Narrative Review","volume":"36","author":"Atchan","year":"2023","journal-title":"Women Birth"},{"key":"ref_45","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"263","DOI":"10.1016\/j.wombi.2022.08.001","article-title":"Influence of Grandmothers on Breastfeeding Practices in a Rural Community in Papua New Guinea: A Critical Discourse Analysis of First-Time Mothers\u2019 Perspectives","volume":"36","author":"Maviso","year":"2023","journal-title":"Women Birth"},{"key":"ref_46","first-page":"331","article-title":"Lactancia materna: Factores que propician su abandono","volume":"19","author":"Duque","year":"2019","journal-title":"Arch. Med. Manizales"},{"key":"ref_47","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"287","DOI":"10.18597\/rcog.4105","article-title":"Experiencias en lactancia materna, vivencia desde la mujer que amamanta: Estudio cualitativo","volume":"74","year":"2023","journal-title":"Rev. Colomb. Obstet. Ginecol."},{"key":"ref_48","first-page":"e2946","article-title":"Apoyo a la lactancia materna en una unidad de cuidados neonatales","volume":"14","author":"Arroyave","year":"2023","journal-title":"Rev. Cuid."},{"key":"ref_49","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1245","DOI":"10.1097\/ACM.0000000000000388","article-title":"Standards for reporting qualitative research: A synthesis of recommendations","volume":"89","author":"Harris","year":"2014","journal-title":"Acad. Med."}],"container-title":["Nursing Reports"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2039-4403\/16\/8\/291\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,20]],"date-time":"2026-08-20T09:01:36Z","timestamp":1787216496000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2039-4403\/16\/8\/291"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,20]]},"references-count":49,"journal-issue":{"issue":"8","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,8]]}},"alternative-id":["nursrep16080291"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/nursrep16080291","relation":{},"ISSN":["2039-4403"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2039-4403","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,20]]}}}