Baby Buddy App for Breastfeeding and Behavior Change: Retrospective Study of the App Using the Behavior Change Wheel
Loretta M Musgrave1,2, Alison Baum3, Nilushka Perera3
1Centre for Midwifery, Child and Family Health, Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo NSW, Australia.
JMIR Mhealth and Uhealth
|April 15, 2021
Summary
The Baby Buddy app, designed to improve breastfeeding rates in the UK, was evaluated using the Behavior Change Wheel framework. The app shows potential for increasing breastfeeding self-efficacy and confidence among mothers.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Health Informatics
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Breastfeeding is crucial for maternal and infant health, yet exclusive breastfeeding rates to 6 months in the UK are very low (1%).
- Socially disadvantaged and younger women in the UK are less likely to breastfeed postpartum.
- The Baby Buddy app is a UK-based digital intervention designed to reduce health inequalities and improve breastfeeding support.
Purpose of the Study:
- To retrospectively analyze the development of the Baby Buddy app using the Behavior Change Wheel (BCW) framework.
- To understand how the app's features may enhance breastfeeding self-efficacy, knowledge, and confidence.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective application of the BCW framework to the Baby Buddy app after its implementation.
- A three-stage process evaluation using triangulation methods.
- Behavioral analysis mapping breastfeeding barriers/enablers to the COM-B system, identifying intervention functions, and linking to behavior change techniques (BCTTv1).
Main Results:
- Baby Buddy is a well-designed platform with potential to modify breastfeeding behaviors.
- The app development team demonstrated a strong understanding of breastfeeding barriers and enablers.
- Several behavior change techniques within the app, particularly those addressing physical capabilities and providing information, were identified as potentially supporting breastfeeding decisions and self-efficacy.
Conclusions:
- Retrospective application of theoretical frameworks like the BCW to mobile health apps is feasible and informative for understanding potential health benefits.
- The Baby Buddy app shows promise for improving breastfeeding rates and supporting mothers.
- Future research should focus on identifying the most effective app components and behavioral techniques for behavior change in breastfeeding.
Keywords:
appbehavior change wheelbreastfeedingdigital behavior change interventiondigital healthsmartphone appMore Related Videos
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