Antenatal education and postnatal support strategies for improving rates of exclusive breast feeding: randomised controlled trial

Abstract

Objective To investigate whether antenatal breast feeding education alone or postnatal lactation support alone improves rates of exclusive breast feeding compared with routine hospital care. Design Randomised controlled trial. Setting A tertiary hospital in Singapore. Participants 450 women with uncomplicated pregnancies. Main outcome measures Primary outcomes were rates of exclusive breast feeding at discharge from hospital and two weeks, six weeks, three months, and six months after delivery. Secondary outcomes were rates of any breast feeding. Results Compared with women who received routine care, women in the postnatal support group were more likely to breastfeed exclusively at two weeks (relative risk 1.82, 95% confidence interval 1

Factors Associated with Exclusive Breastfeeding at Primary Health Care in Indonesia

“…Beginning breastfeeding within 1 hour of birth and not being given supplemental feedings or pacifiers were associated with achieving exclusive breastfeeding intention [17]. From previous study in Singapore, antenatal breast feeding education and postnatal lactation support significantly improves rates of exclusive breastfeeding up to six month after delivery [7,13]. Mothers with greater knowledge about breastfeeding benefits were 11.2 times more likely to initiate breastfeeding and 5.62 times more likely to breastfeed at two months than those with lower levels of knowledge [18].…”

“…Practices of breastfeeding may vary in rural dan urban area in Indonesia. Some of the major factors that affect exclusivity and duration of breastfeeding include maternal knowledge about breastfeeding, family support and health care providers educating mothers on breastfeeding [7]. This study is aimed to determine the exclusive breastfeeding rate and factors associated with exclusive breastfeeding practices in primary health care in Indonesia [8].…”

Exclusive breastfeeding rate and factors associated with infant feeding practices in Indonesia

“…3 A study reported that antenatal education might increase the practice of six months of exclusive breastfeeding with a relative risk of 2.16 (95%CI 1.05 to 4.43), while postnatal education might increase the practice with a relative risk of 2.12 (95%CI 1.03 to 4.37). 3 The Indonesian Pediatrics Society performed a survey to evaluate breastfeeding practices in Indonesia.…”

Assessment of knowledge and healthcare providers’ role in promoting lactation in United Arab Emirates

“…5 Present study also showed that (40.7%) of respondents reported that they were advised and informed on breastfeeding and were aware of the medications which should be avoided during lactation which was higher than a result observed by a KAP study held in India in 2010 as it was reported that only (17%) received advice from health care workers while the majority of the mothers (52%) did not receive any advice on breastfeeding. 6,7 In the current study when respondents were asked to identify what encouraged them to initiate lactation the following results were interpreted: (58.4%) reported that it was their own decision to initiate it, (39.8%) mentioned family encouragement as the second factor and (26.2%) reported the doctor's role as the third factor, (23.3%) lactation consultants and (6.6%) for pharmacists.…”