A smartphone application to support breastfeeding for new mothers in Vietnam

The trial will be conducted at Dong Anh General Hospital and Hanoi Obstetrics and Gynaecology Hospital, Hanoi, Vietnam. The Vietnamese Breastfeeding (VBF) app is a theory-based yet user-friendly smartphone application developed to support breastfeeding, with specific focus at different postnatal stages. Its purpose is to provide support and knowledge that will empower new mothers to exclusively breastfeed their babies for six months. The app content is tailored to the context of breastfeeding in Vietnam, addressing known barriers such as prelacteal feeds and emphasising early initiation of breastfeeding after birth. The VBF app will support and educate mothers about the importance of exclusive breastfeeding, build confidence in breastfeeding (e.g. correct positioning, feeding on demand) and motivate them to continue breastfeeding, by providing evidence-based information and reinforcing regular communication with health professionals to address any problem. All app materials will be culturally appropriate and sensitive to the needs of Vietnamese mothers. Each intervention participant will receive routine care and twice weekly SMS messages from baseline until childbirth. The text messages, adapted from those of Mobile Alliance for Maternal Action (United Nations Foundation 2015), contain advice on healthy lifestyle and nutrition (e.g. to avoid anaemia) during pregnancy, sanitation, early initiation of breastfeeding and vaccinations. Participants may also request a free call back from our hospital nurse to discuss any problem or complex issue. Within 24 hours of giving birth, mothers in the intervention group will be assisted by our trained nurses to install the VBF app and access it weekly for six months. To avoid potential contamination and information exchange with the controls, each intervention participant will be issued a unique non-sharable access code for the download of VBF app to her personal smartphone. They will be briefly trained on use of the app functions and features, and encouraged to engage/communicate with the research team for any technical issues that may arise. In addition, a built-in tutorial with explanations will be displayed on first launching of the app to familiarise users with its functions and features. It is recommended that the intervention participants should access the VBF app twice weekly for breastfeeding information, advice and support during the six-month trial period postpartum. In addition to specific emphases at different postnatal stages, a digital “baby book” is also embedded within the VBF app, which allows a mother to upload photos, note her baby’s achievement of developmental milestones and to set reminders for vaccinations. These features will assist tailoring to individual needs and encourage mothers to set their own breastfeeding goals.