[Development and Effectiveness Evaluation of Comprehensive Mobile-Based, Breastfeeding Promotion Program for Mothers...

Area of Science:

• Maternal Health
• Public Health Interventions
• Diabetes Management

Background:

• Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) presents unique challenges for breastfeeding mothers.
• Effective interventions are needed to support breastfeeding initiation and continuation in this population.
• Mobile health (mHealth) platforms offer a scalable solution for health promotion.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of a mobile-based breastfeeding promotion program (M-BFGDM) tailored for mothers with gestational diabetes.
• To assess changes in breastfeeding knowledge, intention, self-efficacy, and practice rates.

Main Methods:

• A quasi-experimental study utilizing a lag design with a non-equivalent control group.
• Forty-seven mothers with GDM were allocated to either an experimental (n=22) or control group (n=25).
• Data were collected pre- and post-intervention for the experimental group.

Main Results:

• Significant improvement in breastfeeding knowledge was observed in the experimental group (p=.017).
• Breastfeeding practice rates at 1 month postpartum significantly differed between groups (p=.006).
• No significant differences were found in breastfeeding intention or self-efficacy interactions.

Conclusions:

• The M-BFGDM effectively enhanced breastfeeding knowledge and practice rates among mothers with gestational diabetes.
• The program facilitated a breastfeeding environment with reduced time and place constraints.
• Future research should explore motivational components to further optimize breastfeeding support for pregnant diabetic mothers.