Effect Of A Community-based Intervention Study Using Mobile Phone Services And Internet To Promote Breastfeeding During Infant Period

Objective:The purpose of the study is to investigate the knowledge and attitude about breastfeeding of pregnant women in some communities in Erqi district in Zhengzhou city, to establish community intervention methods using Mobile Phone Service and Internet to promote breastfeeding. The aim of this study is to improve the grasp of knowledge in breastfeeding among pregnant women, build their confidence, change their attitude and behaviours about breastfeeding, enhance exclusive breastfeeding rate, extend breastfeeding time,increase their satisfaction about breastfeeding.Methods:This study is experimental research. Pregnant women were divided into intervention group and control group in four communities in Erqi districts in Zhengzhou city from May to August in 2013 since the day they are registered in communities. Intervention group were invited to participate in QQ group, Fetion group and wechat group, the researcher sent text messages and pictures about breastfeeding and knowledge about health care of pregnancy everyday through QQ, Fetion and wechat, the pregnant women in intervention group could chat and supporteach other by QQ, Fetion and wechat.The control group only received regular health care during pregnancy. The knowledge, attitude, behavior about breastfeeding were measured before and after intervention. The exclusive breastfeeding rate were investigated at one week, each month, every four month and six month after birth. Weaning rate was measured in one year after birth. The data analysis methods involved descriptive statistic analysis, two independent sample t-test, logistic regression model, and so on.Results:Comparison of age、career、education level and economic conditiona showed that there was no statistically significant difference between two groups.Therefore the study could be compared.1 The intervention group had a higher score of knowledge about breastfeeding than control group after interventionThere was no statistically significant difference of knowledge about breastfeeding between two groups before recruitment(P>0.05). The intervention group had a higher score of knowledge about breastfeeding than control group after intervention. There was statistically significant difference(P <0.05).2 The intervention group had more positive attitude towards breastfeeding than control group after interventionThere was no statistically significant difference of attitude towards breastfeeding between two groups before recruitment(P >0.05). The intervention group had more positive attitude towards breastfeeding than control group after intervention. There was statistically significant difference(P <0.05).3 The natural delivery group’s breastfeeding rate was higher than control groupIntervention group had more exclusive breastfeeding babies(16.45%) comparedto control group(5.06%) after seven days of birth, The difference in exclusive breastfeeding rate were statistically significant(P <0.05).The exclusive breastfeeding rate in intervention group was 78.48% while it was 63.29% in control group in one month.In four month, the exclusive breastfeeding rate in intervention group was 69.62% while it was 53.16% in control group. The exclusive breastfeeding rate of intervention group decreased to 35.44% while it was only 29.11% in control group.There were statistically significant differences in exclusive breastfeeding between two groups(P <0.05).Analysis of influence factors(both single and multiple factor variance analysis) about exclusive breastfeeding rate one week after birth showed that the rate was higher when the score of breastfeeding knowledge was above 14 and the attitude of breastfeeding was higher. One-way ANOVA analysis showed that natural delivery group’s breastfeeding rate was higher than the cesarean section group’s.Age, cultural level, family income, hospital childbirth, maternity leave time had no effects on breastfeeding rate.4 The intervention group’s weaned rate was lower than those in control group in six months, nine months, and twelve months after birthThe weaned rate of intervention group was 3.95% at six month after birth,while it was 20.51% of control group.At nine month after birth,the weaned rate of intervention group was 20.05%,while it was 37.18% of control group.The weaned rate of intervention group was 30.26% at twelve month after birth,while it was 48.72% of control group.There were statistically significant differences in weaning between two groups(P <0.05).5 Mothers and babies in intervention group were more satisfied than those in control groupMothers and babies in intervention group were more satisfied with their breastfeeding compared to those in control group on 42 day after birth.The score of MBFES about lying-in women in intervention group was 66.29±8.5,while it was 57.94±10.54 in control group.At the same time,the score of MBFES about babiesin intervention group was 31.11±4.18,while it was 24.67±7.55 in control group.There were statistically significant differences in weaning between two groups(P <0.05).Conclusion:It is feasible to promote breastfeeding using Mobile Phone Service and Internet based on community. The intervention with this method can increase positive knowledge and attitude towards breastfeeding, enhance exclusive breastfeeding in six months after birth, and increase mothers’ and babies’ satisfaction with breastfeeding, postpone weaning during one year after birth.