Efficacy of e‐technologies in improving breastfeeding outcomes among perinatal women: a meta‐analysis

Abstract

A growing line of research has highlighted that e-technologies may play a promising role in improving breastfeeding outcomes. The objective of this review was to synthesise the best of available evidence by conducting a meta-analysis to evaluate whether e-technologies have had any effect in improving breastfeeding outcomes among perinatal women. The review was conducted using nine electronic databases to search for English-language research studies from 2007 to 2014. A 'risk of bias' table was used to assess methodological quality. Meta-analysis was performed with the RevMan software. The Q test and I(2) test was used to assess the heterogeneity. The test of overall effect was assessed using z-statistics at P < 0.05. Of 1842 studies identified through electronic searches and reference lists, 16 experimental studies were selected after applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Half of the selected studies had a low risk of bias, from which a total of 5505 women in six countries in these studies were included. Meta-analyses revealed that e-technologies significantly improved exclusive breastfeeding initiation (z = 6.90, P < 0.00001), exclusive breastfeeding at 4 weeks (z = 2.12, P = 0.03) and 6 months (z = 3.2, P = 0.001), breastfeeding attitude (z = 3.01, P = 0.003) and breastfeeding knowledge (z = 4.54, P = < 0.00001) in subgroup analyses. This review provides support for the development of web-based, texting messaging, compact disc read-only memory, electronic prompts and interactive computer agent interventions for promoting and supporting breastfeeding.

Effects of providing nursing care with web‐based program on maternal self‐efficacy and infant health

“…Web‐based education has become widespread thanks to the ease of accessibility, ability to provide continuous information support in the desired time and place, and the use of different methods (video, animation, etc. ; Lau, Htun, Tam, & Klainin‐Yobas, ). Nurses are expected to be able to use the developing technology while fulfilling their responsibilities related to the protection and promotion of maternal and infant health in antenatal and postnatal period (Kumar et al, ).…”

Key Lessons and Impact of the Growing Healthy mHealth Program on Milk Feeding, Timing of Introduction of Solids, and Infant Growth: Quasi-Experimental Study (Preprint)

“…However we are unaware of any other studies reporting the outcomes of a mobile phone app targeting parents' healthy infant feeding practices. A recent meta-analysis of 16 studies in developed countries has shown e-technologies (including SMS, web, and interactive computer agent) to be effective in improving rates of breastfeeding initiation, duration and exclusivity [51]. This review however did not include any studies utilising a mobile phone app.…”

Impact of the Lactation Advice Through Texting Can Help (LATCH) Trial on Time to First Contact and Exclusive Breastfeeding among WIC Participants

“…7,8 Evidence from systematic reviews and meta-analyses suggested moderate to strong positive effects of SMS interventions on disease prevention behaviors, particularly smoking cessation, physical activity, and weight loss [9][10][11][12] ; however, little evidence exists as to the effect of SMS interventions on BF behavior. Only 2 studies were published to date [13][14][15] and although both found positive effects of the intervention on EBF duration, there is a lack of high-quality, randomized, controlled trial (RCT) evidence testing the effectiveness of SMS interventions on BF behavior. The Lactation Advice Through Texting Can Help (LATCH) study was designed to address this gap.…”