Cost-benefit analysis of a multicomponent breastfeeding promotion and support intervention in a developing country

Studies evaluating breastfeeding promotion and support interventions suggest some economic benefits. This study assessed the direct and indirect costs of a multicomponent breastfeeding promotion and support intervention during the first two years of the infant's life.

This is a cost-benefit analysis of data generated from a randomized controlled trial that aimed at investigating whether provision of a multicomponent breastfeeding promotion and support intervention to Lebanese mothers in the first six months postpartum would improve breastfeeding rates compared to standard obstetric and pediatric care. Data on 339 participants included information on maternal socio-demographics and health, infant nutrition and health, and direct and indirect costs of the intervention. The primary outcome was the benefit-cost ratio (BCR) of the intervention at one, six, 12, and 24 months. Secondary outcomes included the overall costs of infant nutrition and infant-mother dyad health costs during the first two years. Multiple linear regression models investigated the effect of the multicomponent intervention (independent variable) on the overall infant nutrition cost and the overall mother-infant health costs (as dependent variables), adjusting for monthly income and number of children (confounders) at different time points in the first two years. Similar regression models investigated the association between infant nutrition type (exclusive breastfeeding, mixed feeding, artificial milk) and infant nutrition costs and infant-mother health costs. Intention to treat analyses were conducted using SPSS (version 24). Statistical significance was set at a p-value below 0.05.

The prevalence of Exclusive/Predominant breastfeeding among participants declined from 51.6% in the first month to 6.6% at the end of second year. The multicomponent breastfeeding intervention incurred 485 USD more in costs than the control group during the first six months but was cost-efficient by the end of the first year (incremental net benefits of 374 USD; BCR=2.44), and by the end of the second year (incremental net benefits of 472 USD; BCR=2.82). In adjusted analyses, the intervention was significantly associated with fewer infant illness visits in the first year (p=0.045). Stratified analyses by the type of infant nutrition revealed that infants who were on Exclusive/Predominant, or Any Breastfeeding had significantly more favorable health outcomes at different time points during the first two years (p<0.05) compared to infants receiving Artificial Milk only, with health benefits being highest in the Exclusive/Predominant breastfeeding group. Moreover, Exclusive/Predominant and Any Breastfeeding had significantly lower costs of infant illness visits, hospitalizations, and infant medications during the two years (p<0.05), but had additional cost for maternal non-routine doctor visits due to breastfeeding (all p values <0.05). Whereas the overall cost (direct and indirect) during the first six months was significantly lower for the Exclusive/Predominant breastfeeding infants (p=0.001), they were similar in infants on Mixed Feeding or Artificial Milk.

Breastfeeding is associated with significant economic and infant health benefits in the first two years. In the context of the current economic crisis in Lebanon, this study provides further evidence to policymakers on the need to invest in national breastfeeding promotion and support interventions.