Impact of the Lactation Advice Through Texting Can Help (LATCH) Trial on Time to First Contact and Exclusive Breastfeeding among WIC Participants.

OBJECTIVE

Determine the impact of a 2-way text messaging intervention on time to contact between participants and their breastfeeding peer counselors (BFPCs) and on exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) status at 2 weeks and 3 months postpartum.

DESIGN

Multisite, single-blind, randomized, controlled trial.

SETTING

Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) BFPC program.

PARTICIPANTS

Low-income women (n = 174) participating in the WIC BFPC program.

INTERVENTION

The control group received the standard of care WIC Loving Support BFPC program. The intervention group received standard of care plus the text messaging intervention.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Time to contact with BFPC and EBF status.

ANALYSIS

The 2-sample t test or χ test assessed whether an association existed between study variables and each outcome. Multivariable ordinal and binary logistic regression assessed the impact of the intervention on time to contact and EBF status.

RESULTS

Lactation Advice Through Texting Can Help had a significant impact on early contact between participants and BFPCs (odds ratio = 2.93; 95% confidence interval, 1.35-6.37) but did not have a significant impact on EBF (odds ratio = 1.26; 95% confidence interval, 0.54-2.66).

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

Lactation Advice Through Texting Can Help has the potential to facilitate the work of BFPCs by shortening the time-to-first-contact with clients after giving birth. Research is needed to identify the level of breastfeeding support staff coverage that WIC clinics must have to meet the demand for services created by Lactation Advice Through Texting Can Help.