Breastfeeding
Conditions
Keywords
Exclusive breastfeeding, Breastfeeding, Proactive breastfeeding support, Telephone breastfeeding support, Infant feeding attitudes, Breastfeeding self-efficacy, Breastfeeding difficulties
Brief summary
In Croatia, between 95% and 99% of mothers initiate breastfeeding, but by 3 months a third have stopped, and by six months only half are still providing any human milk for their babies. Exclusive breastfeeding rates are even lower, with only about 9% of Croatian mothers exclusively breastfeeding at 6 months, despite the WHO recommendation of 6 months of exclusive breastfeeding. Currently, in Croatia, no breastfeeding information or other pregnancy and parenting related written information is routinely provided to expectant couples. In our study we would like to find out whether providing written breastfeeding information in pregnancy and breastfeeding focused support phone calls during pregnancy and after the birth of the baby result in better outcomes than providing general pregnancy/parenting information and support phone calls. This will be tested by randomising women, attending their primary health care provider for routine antenatal visits between 20 and 32 weeks, to an intervention focused on promoting and supporting breastfeeding, to an intervention focused on general pregnancy and parenting issues, and to a non-intervention control group. Women will be followed-up for 6 months after the birth of their baby and data will be collected at 3 and 6 months on breastfeeding rates, breastfeeding self-efficacy, breastfeeding difficulties, social support and attitudes toward infant feeding.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALBreastfeeding support
A breastfeeding brochure will be distributed to expectant mothers from 20 weeks gestation during their regular antenatal visit. This will be followed 2 weeks later by a phone call offering clarification/explanation of the brochure. Three phone calls, offering breastfeeding support, will be conducted at 2,6 and 10 weeks following the birth of the baby.
Sponsors
University Hospital of Split
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
DOUBLE (Subject, Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
FEMALE
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* expectant women, between 20 and 32 weeks gestation, attending any of 6 pre- determined antenatal clinics * primigravidae * singleton pregnancy * can read and write Croatian * resides in Croatia or plans to stay in Croatia at least 12 months following the birth
Exclusion criteria
* multigravidae * women expecting twins/multiples * refuses to participate * inability to communicate in Croatian by phone * planning to leave the County of Split Dalmatia within a year of giving birth * severe maternal psychiatric or medical problems
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Exclusive breastfeeding | 3 months |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Any breastfeeding | 3 & 6 months |
Other
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Maternal attitudes toward infant feeding | Before (at recruitment) and after (at 3 months) | Validated Iowa Infant Feeding Attitude Scale to be used. |
| Breastfeeding self-efficacy scale | At 3 months post birth | Validated tool measuring a mother's confidence in her ability to breastfeed |
| Breastfeeding difficulties | At 3 months postbirth | — |
Countries
Croatia
Outcome results
None listed