Examining Sociocultural Influences on Breastfeeding Attitudes Among Syrian and Hungarian Female Students

Background: Breastfeeding in Syria is a common practice supported by social norms, family traditions, and cultural values. In Hungary, recent statistics show that exclusive breastfeeding is significantly lower than the recommendation of the World Health Organization. Understanding the perspectives of educated young ladies is crucial for discovering the difficulties of breastfeeding practices within Syrian–Hungarian societies. This study explores the sociocultural factors and their impact on breastfeeding behaviours among female students in Syria and Hungary. Methods: A comprehensive, multi-section questionnaire was administered to 317 students from Damascus University and 303 students from Hungarian universities, designed to assess breastfeeding behaviours evaluated through The Breastfeeding Behaviour Questionnaire (BBQ). Results: The results in both societies showed remarkable awareness and understanding among participants regarding breastfeeding. Traditions and culture affect Syrian society more than Hungarian society; the two societies have restricted responses toward breastfeeding in public and different reactions to breastfeeding in front of males or females. Most students disagree with preferring formula feeding to breastfeeding when it is related to the family or the husband’s desire only. At the same time, agreement with choosing the bottle when the mother returns to work instead of exclusively breastfeeding is valued differently in the two societies. Conclusions: This study elucidates the essential the sociocultural factors influencing breastfeeding attitudes among Syrian and Hungarian female students, highlighting the need for culturally suitable strategies to improve breastfeeding practices in both countries.