Tiny Tusks Internship: Factors That Affect Breastfeeding in Public

Author

• Caroline E. BeneFollow

Date of Graduation

5-2026

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Degree Level

Undergraduate

Department

Nursing

Advisor/Mentor

Dr. Kelly Vowell Johnson

Committee Member

Dr. Amy K. Williams

Second Committee Member

Dr. Allison Scott

Abstract

The purpose of this review was to explore factors that impact women’s decision to breastfeed in public or not. The PICOT question used was: ‘What Factors Affect Women’s Decision to Breastfeed in Public or Not?’ Two platforms, EBSCOhost and The National Library of Medicine, were used to identify 15 peer-reviewed journal articles on factors affecting women’s decision to breastfeed in public or not. The factors that impact a women’s decision on whether it is acceptable to breastfeed in public stems from the media stigmatizing that breastfeeding should be a private action. Research done yielded results of both positive and negative community views towards women breastfeeding in public. These results showcased the factors that impacted a person’s comfort level with a women breastfeeding in public. Women tend to avoid choosing a public space when breastfeeding, if possible, due to a history of negative experiences, wanting to avoid conflict, discomfort, and an overall feeling of self-conscious directed towards breastfeeding in public. Tiny Tusks Breastfeeding and Infant Support program helps to combat this issue by providing a safe, clean, and air-conditioned place for mothers to breastfeed at all University of Arkansas athletic events. Through this program we can educate not only mothers but also the community on the importance of being able to feed your infant wherever and whenever you need to. By bringing more awareness and assisting in normalizing public breastfeeding it is a starting action to help mothers feel more comfortable in their decision to feed their infant in public. This review highlights that in order to normalize breastfeeding in public and help women feel more accepted in doing so we need to break down the stigma that public breastfeeding is shameful and should only be conducted in a secluded setting.

Keywords

Lactation; breastfeeding; breastfeeding public; views or opinions or perceptions or beliefs

Citation

Bene, C. E. (2026). Tiny Tusks Internship: Factors That Affect Breastfeeding in Public. The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing Undergraduate Honors Theses Retrieved from https://scholarworks.uark.edu/nursuht/224