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Promoting Sustained Breastfeeding of Infants at Risk for Asthma: Explaining the "Active Ingredients" of an Effective
Ilse Mesters1, Barbara Gijsbers2, L Kay Bartholomew3
1Department of Epidemiology, Care and Public Health Research Institute (CAPHRI), Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands.
Frontiers in Public Health
|April 5, 2018
Summary
Exclusive breastfeeding for six months can reduce asthma and allergy risks in infants with a family history. An educational program successfully improved breastfeeding rates and parental knowledge, supporting this crucial practice.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Allergy and Immunology
- Public Health Interventions
- Maternal and Child Health
Background:
- Infants with a parental or sibling history of asthma or allergy are at higher risk for developing these conditions.
- Exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months is recommended to potentially reduce the risk of childhood asthma and atopic diseases.
- Sustaining exclusive breastfeeding for six months presents a significant challenge for many mothers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the systematic development of an educational intervention designed to improve exclusive breastfeeding rates at six months postpartum.
- To evaluate the effectiveness of the developed intervention in enhancing breastfeeding duration, knowledge, and beliefs among mothers.
Main Methods:
- The intervention was developed using the Intervention Mapping logic model.
- Key intervention components included an evidence- and theory-based booklet.
- The program was delivered through pre- and postnatal home visits conducted by trained assistants.
Main Results:
- The educational program demonstrated success in improving breastfeeding rates at six months postpartum compared to a control group.
- Participants exposed to the program showed significant improvements in knowledge and beliefs regarding breastfeeding at six months.
- The intervention effectively supported mothers in achieving the recommended six months of exclusive breastfeeding.
Conclusions:
- A systematically developed educational program, guided by the Intervention Mapping model, can effectively increase exclusive breastfeeding rates.
- Such interventions are crucial for supporting mothers and potentially mitigating the risk of asthma and atopic diseases in high-risk infants.
- The described intervention development process provides a replicable model for public health initiatives promoting breastfeeding.