YouTube Video Clips on Breastfeeding Education and Promotion for Arabic-Speaking Populations: A Social Media Content Analysis

Abstract

Background/Objective: While the benefits breastfeeding are well-documented and widely recognized, reports indicate that optimal breastfeeding rates are low in Arabic-speaking countries. This is a significant concern given the health benefits associated with breastfeeding for both infants and mothers. Previous research has shown that education interventions can increase breastfeeding knowledge, attitudes, and practices in Arabic-speaking populations. The social media platform YouTube holds significant potential for distributing customized health education for diverse audiences; specifically, this platform has the potential to empower mothers and normalize long-term breastfeeding. The aim of this study was to evaluate the quality of YouTube videos on breastfeeding available in the Arabic language. Methods: We used standard procedures to search YouTube for Arabic breastfeeding videos posted on YouTube in December 2023. Videos were evaluated using the three scales of the DISCERN quality evaluation instrument (reliability, information quality, video quality) and total score. Comparative statistics were generated. Results: A total of 165 videos met inclusion criteria, with 29.7% in the Education category; 43.6% were in Egyptian Arabic dialect. Almost all (91.75%) of the educational videos had a 'Medium' quality assessment. Educational videos and those using health professionals had higher quality assessments than those in other categories or done with other speakers. Conclusion:The results of this review suggest that most content on the topic of breastfeeding was of only medium reliability and informational quality. New mothers seeking breastfeeding information or support may be in need of specific problem-solving information at a time when they are living with the often-difficulty reality of caring for a newborn or very young infant. There is a clear need for accurate, culturally congruent information to effectively support breastfeeding in Arabic-speaking countries. Future efforts should focus on improving the quality of online health education content, with implications for public health strategies and policy development.