Application and evaluation of mobile device-based continuous breastfeeding intervention program

Abstract

Objective \nTo investigate the effects of a mobile application-based continuous breastfeeding intervention program for gravidas. \n \n \nMethods \nPregnant women who received prenatal care and delivered at First Maternity and Infant Hospital Affiliated to Tongji University were enrolled in this quasi-experiment from April 1 to May 31, 2017. Those women who met the inclusion criteria in the Eastern and Southern campuses of the hospital were recruited as intervention group (n=100) and control (n=100) group, respectively. In addition to the routine breastfeeding support which the control group was offered only, the intervention group also received mobile application-based continuous breastfeeding intervention, namely a questionnaire was sent through WeChat official account where the pregnant women had free access to continuous breastfeeding support based on their survey results, such as understanding the benefits of breastfeeding at the first trimester, relationships between breastfeeding and immunity at the second trimester, breast care at the third trimester, treatment of milk spillage/spit during labor, and iron and vitamin supplementation at puerperium. Basic information about the participants, results of Breastfeeding Knowledge Questionnaires administered at the first, second and third trimesters and during labor and the puerperium, responses to Self-efficacy of Breastfeeding Questionnaires during labor and the puerperium, and exclusive breastfeeding rates at discharge and 42 d postpartum were compared between the two groups using two independent sample t-test and Chi-square test. \n \n \nResults \nThere were 83 and 80 pregnant women in the intervention group and control group finally analyzed, respectively. No statistical difference in the scores of the Breastfeeding Knowledge Questionnaire at the first trimester was observed between the intervention group and control group (13.4±1.9 vs 13.3±1.9, t=0.133, P=0.895). However, the scores at the second and third trimesters and during labor and the puerperium in the intervention group were higher than those in the control group (14.1±1.3 vs 13.5±2.0, 14.7±1.1 vs 14.2±1.3, 15.3±1.7 vs 14.4±1.2 and 15.7±1.5 vs 14.9±1.0; t=2.160, 2.435, 4.104 and 3.946; all P<0.05), respectively. The scores of Self-efficacy of Breastfeeding Questionnaires during labor and the puerperium were also higher in the intervention group (123.5±4.7 vs 118.5±5.7 and 128.4±4.2 vs 119.0±6.5, t=6.170 and 10.959, both P<0.01). Compared to the control group, the intervention group had higher exclusive breastfeeding rate at discharge and on 42 d after delivery [78.3% (65/83) vs 61.2% (49/80), χ2=5.641; 57.8% (48/83) vs 38.8% (31/80), χ2=5.938; both P<0.05]. \n \n \nConclusions \nThe mobile application-based continuous breastfeeding intervention program may effectively improve breastfeeding outcomes. \n \n \nKey words: \nBreast feeding;\xa0Telemedicine;\xa0Clinical protocols;\xa0Validation studies