Effectiveness of Mobile Phone-Based Support on Exclusive Breastfeeding and Infant Growth in Nigeria: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Background This study examined whether mobile phone-based support improve the rates, duration of exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) as well as infant growth patterns in Nigeria. Methods A 6-month prospective randomized controlled trial with 75 participants assigned to receive ‘usual care’ or ‘mobile phone-based support in addition to usual care’ EBF rates and duration as well as anthropometric measurements of infants before and after intervention were compared using proportions and mean differences. Results Attrition rates of 10.7% and 14.7% were observed in the intervention and control groups, respectively. Treatment groups were identical in all baseline characteristics and participants in the intervention group showed a slower rate of decline in the practice of EBF. The mean difference of 0.6 months (95% confidence interval: −0.22, 1.42) in EBF duration between intervention and control groups was not statistically significant (t = 1.45; p = 0.149). Similarly, the difference in the EBF rates at the 6th month for the intervention (55.2%) and control (46.8%) groups was not statistically significant (χ2 = 0.623; p = 0.430). Although the intervention group had significantly higher mean weight (p = 0.030) and length (p = 0.044) at the 6th month, the difference in the gain in weight and length of these infants over the period was only significant for the weight (p = 0.044). Although the incidence of adverse clinical nutritional status was more in the control group, these differences were not statistically significant. Conclusion Mobile phone-based intervention has positive effects on the rate and duration of EBF as well as the growth of young infants. Sustaining this simple and cheap technology will improve infant wellbeing especially in resource-constrained settings.

Breastfeeding success in the first 6 months of online breastfeeding counseling after cesarean delivery and its effect on anthropometric measurements of the baby: a randomized controlled study

“…It has been reported that the intervention of mobile phone assisted breastfeeding counseling in Nigeria is associated with the weight of babies in only the sixth month of anthropometric characteristics 19 . In another study, it was reported that the height and weight after breastfeeding education intervention were higher in the intervention group in the second postpartum month, while in the 12th month, when the difference decreased in 6 months, there was almost no difference 20 . The results of the literature differ in themselves and with the findings of the research.…”

“…It was developed by Bandura 20 and Tokat et al 21 and consists of a total of 14 questions evaluating breastfeeding self-sufficiency in Turkish validity and reliability breastfeeding. The scale is a 5-point Likert scale and the minimum score from the scale is 14 and the maximum score is 70.…”

Efeitos de uma intervenção educativa por telefone no aleitamento materno: ensaio clínico

“…Houve diferença na média de 0,6 meses (IC: 95%; 0,22-1,42) na duração do AME entre os GI e GC (t= 1,45; p= 0,149). (20) No Brasil, um ECR testou uma intervenção educativa por telefone, centrada na autoeficácia em amamentar, e evidenciou ser eficaz para elevar a autoeficácia materna e a duração do AM aos dois meses (p= 0,35). (9) No contexto do Nordeste brasileiro, ensaio clínico que desenvolveu intervenção participativa online para promover e apoiar o AME apontou que as frequências de AME foram maiores no GI em comparação com o GC, em todos os meses de acompanhamento (1 mês p= 0,031; aos 2, 3, 4, 5 e 6 meses p = 0,000).…”

The role of mHealth intervention to improve maternal and child health: A provider-based qualitative study in Southern Ethiopia

“…Mobile health increased hospital delivery from 44% to 80.1% in Kenya [ 16 ] and showed improvement in tracking systems that improved maternal and child health in Rwanda [ 17 , 18 ]. The application of mobile phone text and video services improved maternal and child health in Uganda [ 19 ], Cape Town [ 20 ], South Africa [ 21 , 22 ], Nigeria [ 23 ], Pakistan [ 24 ], and Ethiopia [ 25 , 26 ].…”