A theory-based behavioural change communication intervention to decrease the provision of water to infants under 6 months of age in the Republic of Guinea.

OBJECTIVE

In many countries, the provision of water in the early months of a baby's life jeopardises exclusive breast-feeding (EBF). Using a behavioural theory, this study assessed the impact of a behaviour change intervention on mothers' intention to act and, in turn, on the water provision in addition to breast milk to their infants under 6 months of age (IU6M) in two regions of Guinea.

DESIGN

A quasi-experimental design. Data on individual and environmental factors of the theoretical framework, sociodemographic and outcomes were collected using validated questionnaires before and after the intervention. The outcomes examined were the intention to provide water to IU6M, the provision of water and EBF. Path analyses were performed to investigate pathways by which psychosocial and environmental factors influenced the water provision in addition to breast milk.

SETTING

Four health centres were assigned randomly to each study's arm (one control/CG and one intervention group/IG per region).

PARTICIPANTS

The sample included 300 mothers of IU6M: 150 per group.

RESULTS

In IG, the proportion of mothers providing water decreased from 61 % to 29 % before and after the intervention ( < 0·001), while no difference was observed in CG ( = 0·097). The EBF rate increased in IG (from 24·0 % to 53·8 %, < 0·001) as opposed to CG (36·7 % to 45·9 %, = 0·107). An association ( < 0·001) between the intention and the behaviour was observed in both groups.

CONCLUSIONS

An intervention developed using a sound framework reduces the provision of water among IU6M and improves EBF.