The Success of an Educational Program to Promote Exclusive Breastfeeding for 6 Months in Families with a History of Asthma: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

The objective was to investigate the effect of a theory-based educational program in promoting exclusive breastfeeding for at least 6 months in asthmatic families. 89 families in which the woman was less than 7 months pregnant and at least one first-degree relative (mother, biological father, or sibling) had asthma that had been diagnosed by a doctor were recruited by means of posters in the practices of midwives and participated in a randomized controlled trial. When the families in the intervention group were visited (twice before the births of their babies and once after), they received written and oral advice about all aspects of breastfeeding and storing and expressing milk. The proportion of women breastfeeding exclusively at 6 months was significantly higher in the intervention group than among the control group (21/44 [48%] versus 12/45 [27%]; odds ratio 2.91; 95% Confidence Interval [1.10-7.71] (p = 0.03), controlled for maternal age, education level, and breastfeeding experience. This study provides evidence that the new program (written and oral advice about breastfeeding) is effective in improving the exclusive breastfeeding rates at 6 months in asthmatic families. A next step would be to make this program available for health professionals who support pregnant women who have a familial history of asthma. (Pediatr Asthma Allergy Immunol 2006; 19[4]:214–222.)