School of Nursing, University of Hong Kong Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
School of Nursing, University of Hong Kong Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
BMJ Open. 2024 Jul 23;14(7):e081897. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-081897.
Breastfeeding is associated with many health benefits for both women and their newborns. Exclusive breastfeeding has been recommended for at least 6 months to optimise infant growth, development and health. In addition to standard care, community-based peer support is recommended to help mothers improve breastfeeding. A recent survey reveals that the rate of exclusive breastfeeding at 6 months post partum in Hong Kong is low, and half of all breastfeeding mothers never exclusively breastfeed. Taking into account the local practice for women to stay home during the first month post partum and social isolation during and post-COVID-19 pandemic, a home-based peer support programme with the aid of Zoom or Facetime is proposed. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a home-based breastfeeding peer support programme in improving breastfeeding practices and achieving exclusive breastfeeding rate among women with low breastfeeding self-efficacy.
The study is a two-armed randomised control trial and will include a total of 442 participants. Potential cases will be recruited and screened at four postnatal wards in Hong Kong public hospital. Eligible and consented cases will be randomly allocated into intervention or control groups at a 1:1 ratio. Control group (n=221) will receive standard care, while the intervention group (n=221) will receive home-based peer support as well as standard care. Trained peer counsellors will provide breastfeeding-related support through Zoom or Facetime at 10 days and 1 month post partum. Telephone follow-ups will be conducted at 1 month, 2 months, 3 months and 6 months post partum. Breastfeeding status, mother's breastfeeding self-efficacy and postpartum depression will be assessed and compared between the two arms.
The study has been reviewed and approved by the Institutional Review Board of the University of Hong Kong and Hospital Authority Hong Kong West Cluster (UW 20-564). The findings will be updated in trial registries and disseminated in peer-reviewed journals and academic conferences.
NCT04621266.
母乳喂养对母婴双方都有许多健康益处。建议至少进行 6 个月的纯母乳喂养，以优化婴儿的生长、发育和健康。除了标准护理外，还建议提供基于社区的同伴支持，以帮助母亲改善母乳喂养。最近的一项调查显示，香港产后 6 个月的纯母乳喂养率较低，且半数母乳喂养的母亲从未进行过纯母乳喂养。考虑到当地女性在产后第一个月通常会待在家里，以及在 COVID-19 大流行期间和之后的社交隔离，提出了一种利用 Zoom 或 Facetime 的家庭式同伴支持计划。本研究旨在评估家庭式母乳喂养同伴支持计划在提高母乳喂养实践和实现低母乳喂养自我效能女性的纯母乳喂养率方面的有效性。
该研究为一项双臂随机对照试验，共纳入 442 名参与者。将在香港公立医院的 4 个产后病房招募和筛选潜在病例。将合格且同意的病例以 1:1 的比例随机分配到干预组或对照组。对照组（n=221）将接受标准护理，而干预组（n=221）将接受家庭式同伴支持以及标准护理。经过培训的同伴咨询师将在产后 10 天和 1 个月通过 Zoom 或 Facetime 提供母乳喂养相关支持。产后 1 个月、2 个月、3 个月和 6 个月将进行电话随访。将在两组之间评估和比较母乳喂养状况、母亲的母乳喂养自我效能和产后抑郁情况。
该研究已由香港大学和香港医院管理局西联网审查和批准（UW 20-564）。研究结果将在试验注册处更新，并在同行评议期刊和学术会议上发表。
NCT04621266。
