Peer support intervention (ABA-feed) to improve breastfeeding: UK based, multicentre, parallel group, randomised...

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Maternal and Child Health
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• Breastfeeding peer support interventions aim to improve infant feeding outcomes.
• Assets-based approaches focus on individual capabilities and resources.
• Understanding the effectiveness of proactive, person-centered support is crucial for public health initiatives.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of the ABA-feed (Assets based feeding help Before and After birth) proactive peer support intervention on breastfeeding rates.
• To compare formula feeding practices and other maternal and infant outcomes between the intervention and usual care groups.
• To assess the effect of assets-based peer support compared to standard breastfeeding support.

Main Methods:

• A multicentre, unblinded, randomised controlled trial involving 2475 nulliparous women in the UK.
• Participants were randomized to either the ABA-feed intervention or usual breastfeeding support.
• The primary outcome was any breastfeeding at eight weeks postpartum, analyzed using the intention-to-treat principle.

Main Results:

• No significant difference in any breastfeeding at eight weeks postpartum between the ABA-feed intervention group (69.8%) and the usual care group (68.8%).
• High breastfeeding initiation rates were observed in both groups (94.2% vs 92.5%).
• The intervention group reported higher social support at eight weeks, but this was not sustained at 16 weeks; no other secondary outcomes differed.

Conclusions:

• The ABA-feed proactive, assets-based peer support intervention did not improve breastfeeding rates at eight weeks postpartum in the UK.
• The findings suggest that this specific type of enhanced peer support may not be more effective than usual care for increasing breastfeeding duration.
• Further research may explore different intervention components or target populations to enhance breastfeeding support effectiveness.