Breastfeeding provides benefits to the infant and mother; however, the rates of breastfeeding, particularly exclusive breastfeeding, remain below optimal levels in many Asian countries. The aim of this study is to review the benefits of breastfeeding to mothers and infants and current rates of breastfeeding in Vietnam, and to evaluate the effectiveness of a mobile application on exclusive breastfeeding among mothers in Vietnam. A two-arm, parallel triple-blinded randomised controlled trial will be conducted among 1000 mothers in Hanoi City, Vietnam, during 2020–2021. Eligible participants are pregnant women who will seek antenatal care from health facilities at 24–36 weeks of gestation and plan to deliver at two participating hospitals, own a smartphone, and carry a singleton foetus. Permuted-block randomisation method stratified by maternal age, education and parity will be used to ensure an equal number of participants in each group. A smartphone app will be developed to deliver breastfeeding and non-breastfeeding information to the intervention and control group, respectively. Data will be collected at baseline, before hospital discharge, and at 1, 4, and 6 months postpartum. This study envisages demonstrating whether a smartphone-based intervention can be effective at improving breastfeeding in Vietnam. Trials registration: ACTRN12619000531112.
From the total population of the community in Kuningan District, 78.61% were taking filariasis drugs in the Mass Drug Administration (MDA) program in 2017. Cilimus Subdistrict became a filariasis-endemic area in Kuningan with 72.39% of the MDA program coverage in 2017 (government target >86%). The purpose of this study was to analyze the determinant factors of compliance with the MDA program. The study was an analytical study with a cross-sectional design and conducted from May to June 2018. The sample of 106 people was taken from the population living in Cilimus Subdistrict, Kuningan District, using a simple random sampling technique. Independent variables were collected by a constructed questionnaire included age, education level, knowledge, attitude, health promotion, and family support. A questionnaire also measured compliance with MDA as a dependent variable. Data analysis consisted of univariate, bivariate (chi-square and Fisher exact test), and multivariate analyses (multiple logistic regression). The results showed that the variables of knowledge, attitude, MDA health promotion, and family support influence compliance with the MDA (p-value < 0.05). Low knowledge and unawareness of the MDA health promotion proved to be the dominant factors in non-compliance with the MDA program.
Background Breastfeeding should begin as soon as possible after birth and continue exclusively to 6 months of age. In Vietnam, as in many other countries, breastfeeding is decreasing because of modern lifestyles and the promotion of infant formula. It is important to provide mothers, family members, and the community with the knowledge and strategies to improve breastfeeding rates. Smartphones are almost ubiquitous in Vietnam and of the potential to provide information about breastfeeding. This study aimed to document the process of designing and developing a mobile app to increase breastfeeding rates in Vietnamese women. Methods We used a four-step mixed methods approach with a literature review, formative research (22 in-depth interviews and 49 self-administered online questionnaires), and testing of prototype apps (3 focus groups discussion and external experts). Formative research and focus group discussion involved 99 participants. Finally, the revisions of the app were tested. All of the formative research was undertaken in Hanoi in 2019–2020. Target behaviors followed by key determinants, to improve breastfeeding self-efficacy were studied and this information was then applied in developing the messages and library content. Barriers and facilitators to breastfeeding were identified from literature reviews and qualitative research. The messages were targeted at not only mothers but also included fathers, mothers-in-law, or families. Results Mothers were mostly concerned about the initiation of breastfeeding, preventing and reducing difficulties encountered during breastfeeding, and nutrition for breastfeeding mothers. Mental health and well-being in the postnatal period are also concerns. Three key features to be included in the app were identified from the formative research: (1) notifications; (2) an information library; and (3) a searching function. The research found that the app should be installed during pregnancy rather than after delivery (81% vs 17%, respectively). Notifications that convey breastfeeding messages should be sent 2–3 times per week. Conclusion The development of the app followed a best practice approach, including the involvement of stakeholders and grounding in behavior change theory. The next step is to evaluate the effectiveness of the BeBo mobile app in a well-conducted randomized controlled trial. Trial registration ACTRN12619000531112.
BACKGROUND Breastfeeding has substantial benefits for both mothers and children. The World Health Organization and the Vietnam Ministry of Health recommend exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months. However, this target was reached by fewer than 17% of Vietnamese infants and in urban areas such as Hanoi, was only about 12.6%. Many factors influence breastfeeding, but mothers are the most influential in achieving breastfeeding success. The high rate of use of smart mobile phones among mothers in urban areas offers unique opportunities to promote breastfeeding OBJECTIVE This study is to document the process of designing, developing, and evaluating a mobile app that is tailored to Vietnamese culture and aims to increase breastfeeding rates, particularly exclusive breastfeeding, and duration in Vietnamese women METHODS To design and develop the mobile app we used a 4-step mixed methods approach. We firstly reviewed studies on using mHealth and mobile apps for improving breastfeeding as well as barriers and facilitators of breastfeeding in Vietnam. We then conducted 22 in-depth interviews with mothers about key barriers, facilitators, and ideas about the apps. Self-administered online questionnaires were responded to by 49 mothers and fathers about the main features and contents of the apps. After that, we identified and developed the app among the research team to have two versions of the app (intervention vs. control version) and a mechanism that ensured a triple-blinded, randomized controlled trial study. In the next step, we tested the app messages with mothers of 3 focus groups and invited external experts for reviewing the library content. Finally, team members tested and adjusted the prototype before conducting a large-scale test of its effectiveness RESULTS Participants were most interested in information on the mental health and wellbeing of mothers during pregnancy and after delivery, preparation for delivery, and avoiding food and beverages. Regarding breastfeeding, mothers were most concerned about nutrition for mothers during breastfeeding, preventing and reducing difficulties on breastfeeding, and initiation of breastfeeding. Three key features to be included in the prototype app were identified from the formative research: (1) notifications; (2) an information library; and (3) searching function. The app should be installed during pregnancy rather than after delivery. Push notifications that convey the main messages should be sent 2 – 3 times per week to remind mothers of using the app. CONCLUSIONS The development of the app, called BeBo followed a best practice approach, including the involvement of related stakeholders and grounding in behavior change theory. To the best of our knowledge, it is the first mobile app that enables us to evaluate the effectiveness of mHealth interventions in a well-conducted randomised controlled trial. CLINICALTRIAL ACTRN12619000531112
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