Abstract
BackgroundEffective evidence-based breastfeeding support interventions can bolster breastfeeding practices. This study investigated the effect of a multi-component breastfeeding support intervention delivered in hospital and home settings on six-month exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) relative to standard care.MethodsThis is a parallel group, randomized clinical trial, in which 362 healthy pregnant women with singleton pregnancy were randomly allocated to a multi-component intervention that included antenatal breastfeeding education, professional, and peer support, delivered in hospital and home settings for six months (experimental, n = 174), or to standard care (control, n = 188). The primary outcome was six-month EBF rate. Secondary outcomes were exclusive and any breastfeeding rates at one and three months, maternal breastfeeding knowledge, attitude, and behavior at six months, and satisfaction with the intervention.ResultsThe crude six-month EBF rate was similar in both groups (35.2% vs. 28.1% in the experimental and control groups, respectively, p = 0·16). In adjusted analysis, six-month exclusivity was twice as likely in the experimental group relative to standard care (OR = 2.02; 95%CI: 1.20 to 3.39); whereas the odds for any breastfeeding were similar. Participants compliant with all three components were six times more likely to practice EBF for six months relative to standard care (OR = 6.63; 95% CI: 3.03 to 14.51). Breastfeeding knowledge of the experimental group, at six months, was significantly improved compared to the control. No changes were observed in breastfeeding attitude or behavior.ConclusionsCombining education with peer and professional breastfeeding support improved six-month breastfeeding exclusivity and knowledge.
Highlights
Breastfeeding is an important public health measure that impacts short, and long-term outcomes of children and their mothers [1]
This study investigated the effect of a multi-component breastfeeding support intervention delivered in hospital and home settings on six-month exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) relative to standard care
The funder had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. This is a parallel group, randomized clinical trial, in which 362 healthy pregnant women with singleton pregnancy were randomly allocated to a multi-component intervention that included antenatal breastfeeding education, professional, and peer support, delivered in hospital and home settings for six months, or to standard care
Summary
Breastfeeding is an important public health measure that impacts short-, and long-term outcomes of children and their mothers [1]. Evidence from systematic reviews reveals that breastfeeding is associated with reduced child under-five mortality, infections, and dental malocclusion; and with higher child intelligence quotient It reduces maternal risks of breast and ovarian cancers, and type 2 diabetes. It is estimated that scaling up of breastfeeding prevents 823,000 child deaths, and 20,000 maternal deaths from breast cancer each year [1] Despite this overwhelming evidence in support of breastfeeding practice, breastfeeding rates of developing, as well as developed countries are disappointingly low. Peer support reduced the risk of not breastfeeding by 30% in low- or middle-income countries, and by 7% in high-income countries [2], and all forms of extra support, analysed together, increased the duration of exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) until six months [3,4]. This study investigated the effect of a multi-component breastfeeding support intervention delivered in hospital and home settings on six-month exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) relative to standard care.
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