Abstract

Introduction: Despite the proven risks associated with not breastfeeding, few mothers exclusively breastfeed their babies for six months as recommended by the World Health Organization. This study was conducted to compare the effect of breastfeeding promotion interventions on exclusive BMF among primiparous women.


Methods: This quasi-experimental study was conducted on a sample of 93 primiparous women who were referred to health care centres, Mashhad, Iran, in 2010. Health care centres were selected by multistage sampling method, and then randomly allocated into two intervention groups (peer support group and health care provider’s education group) and one control group. Primigravidae aged 18-35 years old, with singleton pregnancy, with gestational age of 35-36 weeks, and intending to breastfeed their children were randomly selected out of health care centres. The peer support group participants received supports from their peers four times and education group’s participants received 4 training sessions by health care providers. The control group received only routine cares. Exclusive BMF duration and rate assessed at 4 and 8 weeks postpartum and collected data were analysed using SPSS (ver.11.5) software.


Results: There were no significant differences in exclusive BMF duration at 4 and 8 weeks among the 3 groups (P=0.993, P=0.904). Exclusive BMF rate at 4 and 8 weeks after birth was significantly different among the 3 groups (P=0.043, P=0.023). No significant difference was found between peer support and healthcare provider’s education groups with respect to BMF rate at 4 weeks (P=0.111), but the difference was significant at 8 weeks (P=0.027).


Conclusion: All women should be offered education and peer support to breastfeed their babies to increase the exclusive breastfeeding rate. But to continue exclusive breastfeeding, and increase its duration, help of family is more important than education and peer support. Support that is only offered reactively, in which women are expected to initiate the contact, is unlikely to be effective; women should be offered ongoing support so they can predict that support will be available. Support should be tailored to the needs of the setting and the population group.

Keywords: Peer Support Education Health Care Providers Exclusive Breast Feeding


Introduction

World Health Organization (WHO) recommended exclusive breast milk feeding (BMF) to the infant for the first six months of life to achieve optimal growth, development,911 and health. Nevertheless, exclusive BMF remains uncommon in most countries (both developed and developing), even in countries with high rates of breastfeeding initiation Imdad et al., 2011. Recent data shows that the prevalence of exclusive BMF in developing countries has increased from 33% in 1995 to just 39% in 2010 Haroon et al., 2013. Although using promoting programs, exclusive BMF has had a descending trend in Iran in 2000-2006, and an increasing trend in 2007-2011 Motlaq Me, 2013. According to the results of the Demographic Health Survey (2000) Olang et al., 2009, less than 45% of the infants who were younger than 6 months used exclusive BMF decreasing the rate to 27% in 2004 Olang et al., 2009 and 23.1% in Integrated Monitoring Evaluation System Survey in 2006 Esfahani Mm, 2009, but fortunately, prevalence of exclusive BMF increased to 53.1% in 2011 Motlaq Me, 2013. Integrated Monitoring Evaluation System Survey in Razavi Khorasan Province, Iran showed that the prevalence of exclusive BMF was approximately 25% Esfahani Mm, 2009.

BMF is natural, but it requires skill and education. Especially in primiparous women, limited information and inexperience about breastfeeding is the most common problem. This may lead to vicious ring of problems which may end in failure of establishment and continuation of breastfeeding Najem, 2011Translators-Group, 2008.

WHO declared BMF promotion and support as a public health priority in 2003 following reduction in the rate and duration of exclusive BMF Esfahani Mm, 2009. In order to achieve this, two vast groups of hospital and community-concentrated strategies, which will be done by professional and non-professional people, are recommended to promote exclusive BMF (2006, July 21).

One of the hospital-concentrated strategies is fulfilling educational programs by professionals Translators-Group, 2008. BMF education is usually a formalised, defined, descriptive, and goal-oriented programme with a specific purpose and target audience, and given as part of routine antenatal care Lumbiganon et al., 2012.

Breastfeeding education provided by the primary care physician during routine preventive visits is likely to have limited impact, compared with the effects of various barriers that negatively affect breastfeeding duration such as psychological factors, cultural factors, and returning to work. Studies have documented that infant feeding counselling is often associated with poor quality or unavailability for many women Ansari et al., 2014Owais Ahmad M, 2012. Although there is an education regarding exclusive breastfeeding during pregnancy by midwives in Iran, it did not result in great success in breastfeeding Ansari et al., 2014.

Dyson’s review study have shown that formal and informal education, based on the requirements, are effective in increasing BMF Dyson et al., 2005. Belay showed that prenatal education could increase exclusive BMF rate Belay and Haidar, 2013. Ansari reported that educational program could increase exclusive BMF duration Ansari et al., 2014. Likewise, Artieta-Pinedo believes that antenatal education might increase breastfeeding for first month after birth Artieta-Pinedo et al., 2013.

On the other hand, peer support is an important element in offering health care Dennis, 2003, and community education and support for target population Mickens, 2008. Peer support in BMF includes emotional support, encouragement, BMF education, and help in resolving nursing mothers’ difficulties by mothers who have had a BMF history Mead et al., 2001Muller et al., 2009. Peer support can be done during pregnancy and postpartum by an individual, one-to-one counselling, a support group, a phone call or a home visit Dennis, 2003Mead et al., 2001Mickens, 2008 or a peer who is similar to the nursing mother in some special characteristics like age, sex, occupation, socioeconomic status, health status, etc Dennis, 2003Muller et al., 2009. Several studies have shown the effect of peer support on increasing early BMF initiation, its continuation up to 6-8 weeks, increasing the rate Andrade S, 2008Chung et al., 2008Dennis et al., 2002Dennis, 1999Dennis and Kingston, 2008Mickens, 2008Palda et al., 2004 and duration of exclusive BMF Andrade S, 2008Dennis, 1999Dennis and Kingston, 2008Meglio et al., 2010Palda et al., 2004Persad and Mensinger, 2008 and decreasing BMF problems Mickens, 2008Rossman, 2007.

Although several studies have shown the effectiveness of support and education for nursing mothers by professionals or non-professionals on all patterns of infant feeding (exclusive, predominant, complete, and partial) Chung et al., 2008Sikorski et al., 2003, especially exclusive BMF Sikorski et al., 2003, but in relation to breastfeeding promotion, there is little information as to which type of strategies are most effective in promoting exclusive breastfeeding and achieving high and equitable coverage Chung et al., 2008Sikorski et al., 2003. Therefore, this study is aimed at comparing the effect of breastfeeding promotion interventions on exclusive BMF in primiparous women settled in Mashhad, a city in the North East of Iran, in 2010.

Methods

Design and participants

This quasi-experimental study was conducted on 108 primigravidae who were referred to health care centres in Mashhad in 2010. Research ethics approval has been obtained from Mashhad University of Medical Sciences (No: 12–082) on September 24, 2010. All pregnant women participated and peer supports were requested to give their written informed consent prior to any study procedure. To secure confidentiality, all identifying information of participants, including name, medical, and contact information as well as all collected data will be kept in patient’s privacy.

Multistage sampling was done. First, the city of Mashhad was divided into three clusters. Each cluster contained a health centre, which consisted of 40 to 60 small health centres. In every cluster, a list of all health centres was prepared using random numbers table, and finally three health centres were randomly selected. The selected centres were randomly assigned into 3 groups of peer support, education by health care providers, and control. A total of 9 health centres were included in the study.

The research was conducted in three stages, including peer selection and training, selection and training of the health care providers, and sample selection and intervention.

Peer selection and training

In the first stage, among the people covered by health care centres dedicated to the peer support group, 23 Iranian female volunteers living in Mashhad, with at least a fifth grade education, a BMF history, and good attitude towards BMF, were selected through a public invitation. Then, their knowledge and attitude towards BMF and communication skills were tested using a pre-test by researcher.

To prepare volunteers for support, the researcher held training classes in five group sessions with 7 to 8 persons in each group. Daily sessions over 3 hours with a 45-minute break was held every 90 minutes separately by the investigator at each centre.

The education was on the definition of peer support; that is, the purpose, role, and responsibilities of peer volunteers; communication skills; and the basics of BMF (including the benefits of BMF; the anatomy and physiology of lactation; conditions of feeding and breast insertion; proper establishment of BMF; barriers to support and encourage; questions, common concerns, and stories; and false beliefs about BMF), in the mentioned health care with the lecture approach, using educational slides and images, questions and answers, and role playing. Sixteen out of the twenty three enrolled participants completed the course, and obtained at least 75% of the post-test scores of knowledge, attitude, and communication skills and 75 percent of the self-assessment score, and took responsibility as a peer to support introduced mothers.

Selection and training of the health care providers

In the second stage, 7 midwives were selected among official or contract healthcare providers who had passed BMF counselling classes, and employed in health care centres allocated to health care provider’s education group. After obtaining written consent, in order to integrate the presented materials to the participants, they received necessary education for 2 hours according to BMF education guide for mothers.

Sample selection and intervention

After education of the peers and health care providers, the sample size was calculated with a pilot study. At first, 30 pregnant women with eligibility criteria were randomly divided into three groups of peer support (10), education by health care providers (n=10), and control (n = 10).

Sample size was calculated on the basis of the results of pilot study and using the formula for the difference between three means with the following assumption of 3.8±2.66 days duration of exclusive breastfeeding. We estimated that a sample of 27 mothers in each group would have 85% power with a 2-tailed α error of <0.05 to detect a 21.8 relative increase in the duration of exclusive breastfeeding at 8 weeks.

We assumed that nearly 30% of mothers would be lost to follow-up monitoring; therefore, we planned to include 36 eligible mothers in each group. At last 108 women were enrolled the study.

Inclusion criteria were as follows: Iranian primigravidae who were 18-35 years old, living in Mashhad with at least a fifth-grade education, normal BMI, singleton pregnancy, and intended to breast-feed their children with gestational age between 35-36 weeks.

The researcher referred to the selected health care centres, and prepared a list of eligible pregnant women from the office of maternal care; then, 12 participants were randomly selected at each using a random number table centre. The eligible women were invited by phone to the health centres. After explaining the objectives and the application of research results, they were enrolled, and informed consent was obtained from them.

Selected mothers in the centre assigned to the peer support were introduced to a peer volunteer with regard to cultural, social, and economical similarities, by the researcher or similar coordinated peer. The first support was conducted at 36-38 weeks of pregnancy, and three latter supports in 1, 2 and 3 interval weeks after birth, by peer. The first and third supports were done by face to face, and second and fourth supports by phone.

Selected mothers in the centre assigned to the training health care providers received the first training at 36-38 weeks of pregnancy, and three latter training sessions in 1, 2 and 3 interval weeks after birth by health care provider. The first and third training sessions were done by face to face, and second and fourth by phone.

Selected mothers in the centre assigned to the control just received routine prenatal (including nursing training in 35-37 weeks of pregnancy) and postpartum care (including nursing training in 1-3, 10-15 and 42-60th day postpartum).

Instruments

Attitude of peer volunteers, health care providers, and pregnant women towards breastfeeding was evaluated by a 20-question questionnaire. The responses were based on 3-point Likert scale (agree, no idea, and disagree) with score of 1 to 3; the minimum score was 20 and the highest score 60. In other words, attitude was classified as poor (20-33.3), moderate (33.4-46.6), and good 46.7-60). Content validity and reliability were confirmed using the Cronbach's Alpha coefficient of 0.74. The feeling of mother and husband towards pregnancy was examined with a 5-point Likert-type scale as, "very happy", "happy", "indifferent", "sad", and "very sad".

Baseline characteristics regarding mother and her pregnancy were gathered using a questionnaire at the beginning of the study. Baseline characteristics regarding delivery and infant were gathered using a questionnaire during postpartum period. Breast milk feeding information was gathered by a daily reporting questionnaire form on infant nutrition during 8 weeks after postpartum. Exclusive BMF duration and rate were assessed at 4 and 8 weeks postpartum. The daily reporting questionnaire was approved by 13 faculty members in Mashhad University of Medical Sciences with content validity and reliability with test-retest reliability (r = 0.9) and Cronbach's alpha (r = 0.7).

Statistical analysis

SPSS (version 11.5, SPSS, Inc, Chicago, IL, USA) software package was used for all statistical analyses. Normality of quantitative variables was evaluated by Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. Quantitative variables have been presented as mean and standard deviation, and qualitative variables as number and percent. The main dependent variables were exclusive BMF duration and rate at 4 and 8 weeks postpartum. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) test was used to compare mother’s age and birth weight of newborn among groups. The Kruskal Wallis test was used to compare participant’s education and occupation, the first time of BMF, participant’s feeling towards pregnancy, the first prenatal care visit, spouse’s idea about BMF, others’ idea about BMF, location of prenatal care among groups. The chi-square was used to compare delivery mode, spouse’s feeling toward pregnancy, assistant person in caring infant after birth among groups. The Fisher exact test was used to compare family income, unplanned pregnancy among groups. The chi-square was used to compare exclusive BMF rates among groups at 4 and 8 weeks postpartum, and exclusive BMF rates between 4 and 8 weeks were compared in each group using McNemar test. The ANOVA was used to compare exclusive BMF duration among groups at 4 and 8 weeks postpartum. Exclusive BMF duration between 4 and 8 weeks were compared in each group using paired t-test. Confidence coefficient 95% and α level of 0.05 were used for all statistical tests.

Results

Sixteen out of the 23 enrolled peer supporters completed the educational course. Their mean age was 34.7±6.36, most of the women had 2 children (50%), the mean duration of BMF for children was 21.3±5.51 months, and majority of them had elementary (37.5%) and high school (37.5%) education.

The average age and work experience of health care providers participated were 33.6±4.40 and 7.9±3.98 years, respectively.

Fifteen women out of 108 participants were excluded because of the exclusion criteria during the research such as being hospitalised, neonatal death or still birth, lack of tendency to keep cooperation, or not receiving education or support Figure 1 . So the analyses were performed on 93 participants. There were no differences in baseline characteristics regarding maternal and infant data between the 3 groups such as participant’s age, birth weight Table 1 , education, occupation, family income, planned pregnancy, when to decide for BMF, delivery mode, and the first time of BMF Table 2 . However, three groups had significant differences in some variables like participant’s feeling toward pregnancy (P=0.039), spouse’s feeling about pregnancy (P=0.009), prenatal care for the first time (P=0.002), the spouse’s attitude towards breast milk feeding (P=0.038), the others’ attitude towards breast milk feeding (P=0.022), place of prenatal care (P=0.029), and assistant help in child care at and after birth (P=0.023) Table 3 . The effect of these variables was analysed on two dependent variables (duration and rate of exclusive BMF). None of the heterogeneous variables affect the duration and rate of exclusive BMF except assistant help in child care at and after birth; which just affected the duration of exclusive BMF and not its rate Table 3 .

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Figure 1. Consort flow diagram
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Table 1.
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Table 2.
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Table 3.

About 22.6% of the mothers of peer support group, 16.7% of the mothers of health care provider’s education group, and 19.4% of the mothers of control group initiated breastfeeding within the first hour after birth. However, there were no significant differences between the groups (p=0.879). The mean duration of exclusive BMF of total participants at 4 weeks after birth was 9.2 ± 11.26 days, and the mean duration of exclusive BMF of total participants at 8 weeks was 13.5 ± 19.81 days. The three groups had no significant difference in terms of duration of exclusive BMF at 4 weeks (P=0.056), but they had significant difference at 8 weeks (P=0.014). Table 4 The variable “assistant help in child care at and after birth to ward their family members” was heterogeneous in assessed groups. Also, it was a confounding variable on the duration of exclusive BMF. Therefore, its effect was assessed on the duration of exclusive BMF according to Table 4 . The duration of exclusive BMF at 4 and 8 weeks had no significant difference in groups who did not receive assistant help to care their child at and after birth to ward their family members (P=0.993 and P=0.904) Table 4 . The mentioned variable in groups who received assistant help to take care of their child at and after birth was P=0.020 and P=0.002, respectively Table 4 .

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Table 4.

In this study, 20.4% of subjects had exclusive BMF at 4 weeks after birth. In peer support group - 34.4%, in health care provider’s education group - 16.7%, and in control group - 9.7% of research subjects had exclusive BMF 4 weeks after birth. Fourteen percent of subjects had exclusive BMF at 8 weeks after birth. Chi square test showed that three groups had significant differences in the rate of exclusive BMF at 4 and 8 weeks after birth (P=0.043 and P=0.023) Table 5 .

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Table 5.

Both peer support and health care provider’s education had no significant difference in the rate of exclusive BMF at 4 weeks after birth (P=0.111), but they significantly differ in terms of the rate of exclusive BMF at 8 weeks after birth (P=0.027).

Discussion

These findings demonstrated that peer support and health care provider’s education were similar in exclusive BMF duration. However, peer support was more effective than health care provider’s education in increasing exclusive BMF rate. Compared with routine care, both groups of peer support and health care provider’s education show some effect in extending the rate of exclusive breastfeeding. Assessing the effect of confounding variable "assistant help in child care at and after birth" on the duration of exclusive BMF showed that receiving peer support or training by health care providers did not increase the duration of exclusive BMF; but increased remarkably the rate of exclusive BMF.

Partners are particularly important because their approval means so much to a mother, and her partner is often her primary source of support. The baby’s grandmothers are also very influential because mothers who have recently given birth rely on them for support and advice. To make breastfeeding successful, mothers need the support and encouragement of all of these people Health and Services, 2011.

Dennis (2002) and Anderson (2005) concluded that peer support increases the rate of exclusive BMF that are in agreement with our result Anderson et al., 2005Dennis et al., 2002.

The findings of Meglio (2010) and Vari (2000) showed significant improvements in exclusive BMF duration resulting from peer support, whereas Graffy (2004), Muirhead (2006) and our research did not Graffy et al., 2004Meglio et al., 2010Muirhead et al., 2006Vari et al., 2000. Given the diversity of cultures and philosophies underpinning health service systems in different countries, it is unlikely that one generalised intervention will provide a magic bullet to increase breastfeeding Hoddinott et al., 2011.

In addition, Vari examined breastfeeding status with the question “To provide feeding your infant, how long (the number of weeks) you use your milk?” Megilo investigated at the end of each week lactation status by the phone Haroon et al., 2013Vari et al., 2000, but in our study, daily feeding reports were used because that is closer to evaluation of infants' feeding pattern Sheehan, 1999.

Belay (2013) and Artieta-Pinedo (2012) showed that education could increase exclusive BMF rates Artieta-Pinedo et al., 2013Belay and Haidar, 2013 which were consistent with the present study.

But Ansari (2014) and Sheehan (1999) concluded that breastfeeding education could increase the duration of exclusive BMF Ansari et al., 2014Sheehan, 1999 that was in contrast with the present study. Ansari utilised an integration method of peer education and professional education for intervention Ansari et al., 2014 and Sheehan used peer education group in the presence of their spouses and in the education group by midwives. It seemed interventions that combine health professional and peer may be effective in increasing breastfeeding Jolly et al., 2012. Moreover, women should make their spouse and family involved in deciding on BMF because their support affects initiating and continuing of BMF and to increase the duration of exclusive BMF Esfahani Mm, 2009Olang et al., 2009Raine, 2003Uchendu et al., 2009.

Su's study (2007) showed that exclusive BMF rate did not differ significantly between education and professional support groups Su et al., 2007. Also, in the present study, the rate of exclusive BMF at 4 weeks after birth did not significantly differ between health care provider’s education and peer support groups, but peer support increased the rate of exclusive BMF at 8 weeks more than health care provider’s education. In the present study, peer supporters emphasised to each mother that they are available and dedicated to help them with their breastfeeding needs and challenges. The supportive actions of the peer supporters vary according to the mother’s needs at the moment and peer supporters’ assessment of the situation.

Because of sampling selection in health care centres, the effect of some prenatal factors, such as drugs during delivery and neonatal Apgar score, were not assessed on exclusive BMF. However, some factors such as mode of delivery, interval between birth and infant’s first contact with the mother, interval between birth and the first baby BMF, duration of the first BMF, mother’s satisfaction with delivery, and postpartum complications were controlled as much as possible.

Conclusion

In this study, education and peer support increased the number of women who fed exclusively with breast milk, to continue exclusive breastfeeding, and to increase its duration. The help of family is more important than education and peer support. Therefore, it is suggested that families are educated about the importance of supporting and helping lactating mothers. All women should be offered education and peer support to breastfeed their babies to increase the exclusive breastfeeding rate. But to continue exclusive breastfeeding, and increase its duration, the help of family is more important than education and peer support. Support that is only offered reactively, in which women are expected to initiate the contact, is unlikely to be effective; women should be offered ongoing support so they can predict that support will be available. Support should be tailored to the needs of the setting and the population group. The strength of the study is that it was conducted in 3 groups by multistage sampling method, and then the groups were randomly allocated into peer support, health care provider’s education, and control groups. The generalisation of our findings to other breastfeeding women is limited by the small sample size.

Abbreviations

WHO: World Health Organization; BMF: breast milk feeding, ANOVA: The analysis of variance

Author Contributions

Asieh Moudi contributed to study design, data acquisition and analysis, and wrote the manuscript. Mahin Tafazoli contributed to write and edited the manuscript. Hasan Boskabadi to reviewed and edited the manuscript for intellectual content. Saeed Ebrahimzadeh contributed to data analysis and reviewed and edited the manuscript for intellectual content. Hamid Salehiniya designed the study, analyzed data, and wrote the manuscript. All authors gave final approval of the version to be published. Asieh Moudi is the guarantor of this work and, as such, had full access to all the data in the study and takes responsibility for the integrity of the data and the accuracy of the data analysis. All authors reed the final version of article.

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