The Effect of Peer Counselors on Breastfeeding Rates in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

Abstract

Peer counselors increased breastfeeding duration among premature infants born in an inner-city hospital and admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit. Peer counseling programs can help to increase breastfeeding in this vulnerable population.

Provision of Support Strategies and Services

“…Well-structured initial breastfeeding training providing adequate hands-on practice to CBBCs coupled with continuing breastfeeding education, may be able to augment the lack of experience of younger breastfeeding counselors, equip them with appropriate counseling skills, and increase their self-efficacy to use more intensive breastfeeding support strategies shown to be effective in increasing rates of breastfeeding. [8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18] According to the findings from the current study, the pursuit of continuing breastfeeding education was associated with the likelihood of a CBBC using more intensive strategies during counseling, which may translate into increased breastfeeding rate of the clientele they serve.…”

Breastmilk for Preterm Neonates

“…24 We also found an RCT, which was not a part of the Cochrane review, looking into the effect of peer counselors on breastfeeding rates in neonatal care unit. 27 This study found beneficial effect on breastfeeding duration among premature infants admitte in the neonatal intensive care unit.…”

Evaluation of the Missouri WIC (Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children) breast-feeding peer counselling programme

“…Also, our study controlled for multiple potential confounding factors. The fact that both studies have found similar results despite differences in study designs suggests that PC improves breast-feeding initiation not only in clinical trial settings ( 6 – 8 , 14 ) but in public health programme settings as well.…”

“…Also, our study controlled for multiple potential confounding factors. The fact that both studies have found similar results despite differences in study designs suggests that PC improves breast-feeding initiation not only in clinical trial settings (6)(7)(8)14) but in public health programme settings as well. In addition to finding a positive impact of the PC programme on breast-feeding initiation, our study also shows that the impact is highest among those who enrol in WIC for a longer duration before delivery.…”