Virtual Health Interventions to Improve Breastfeeding: A Systematic Review
Heidi Sze Lok Fan1,2, Daniel Yee Tak Fong3, Kevin Wittenberg4
1College of Nursing, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
Pediatrics
|August 5, 2026
Summary
Virtual breastfeeding support effectively extends breastfeeding duration and exclusivity. Combined in-person and virtual interventions show the most significant benefits for new mothers.
Area of Science:
- Digital Health
- Maternal and Child Health
- Evidence-Based Practice
Background:
- Virtual health interventions, including virtual breastfeeding support, have seen rapid adoption.
- Evidence on the comparative effectiveness of different virtual breastfeeding intervention types is limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of various virtual breastfeeding interventions on breastfeeding duration and exclusivity.
- To synthesize evidence from randomized controlled trials on virtual breastfeeding support.
Main Methods:
- Systematic literature search of major databases and clinical trial registries up to January 2025.
- Inclusion of randomized controlled trials assessing synchronous virtual breastfeeding interventions delivered by healthcare providers.
- Extraction of data on study design, participant characteristics, and breastfeeding outcomes.
Main Results:
- 58 studies and 62 interventions were analyzed, with 51.6% effectively prolonging breastfeeding duration.
- Virtual breastfeeding interventions demonstrated effectiveness in extending both any and exclusive breastfeeding durations.
- Interventions combining in-person and virtual support yielded more substantial improvements in breastfeeding duration and exclusivity.
Conclusions:
- Virtual breastfeeding interventions are effective in prolonging breastfeeding duration and exclusivity.
- The integration of virtual support into clinical settings is crucial to meet diverse parental needs.
- Generalizability of findings is limited due to the predominance of studies from high-income countries.
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