The World Health Organization advocates for breastfeeding as the best source of food for
      optimal infant development, which reduces the risk of infant mortality and morbidity. The
      objectives of this study are to evaluate the effect of a father-involvement breastfeeding
      telephone support intervention on prevalence and duration of exclusive breastfeeding,
      postnatal depression and parent-infant bonding. The intervention consists of four weekly
      20-30 minutes telephone-administered counselling sessions on breastfeeding, delivered
      individually in the first month postpartum for mothers and fathers. We expect that women who
      receive the intervention will have a higher rate and longer duration of exclusive
      breastfeeding, fewer depressive symptoms and better parent-child relationship. The knowledge
      gained from this study can provide direction for the development of flexible, accessible and
      culturally sensitive interventions to promote breastfeeding and mental health in Chinese
      society.

Father-involvement Telephone Support Intervention on Breastfeeding: RCT

Breast Feeding, Exclusive

Parents

Exclusive breastfeeding is recommended as the most beneficial form of infant nutrition during
      the first 6 months of life, which protects infants against childhood illness and reduces the
      risk of infant mortality and morbidity. The aim of this study is to implement and evaluate a
      breastfeeding telephone support intervention that involves mothers and fathers during the
      postpartum period. The objectives are to evaluate the effect of a father-involvement
      breastfeeding telephone support intervention on prevalence and duration of exclusive
      breastfeeding, postnatal depression and parent-infant bonding.

      Hypothesis to be tested:

        1. Mothers who receive the father-involvement telephone support intervention will have a
           higher rate and a longer duration of exclusive breastfeeding at 1, 2, 4 and 6 months
           postpartum than those who receive the standard postpartum care.

        2. Mothers and fathers who receive the intervention will have: (a) fewer depressive
           symptoms, and (b) better parent-infant bonding at 2 and 6 months postpartum than those
           who receive the standard postpartum care.

      Design and subjects: Randomized controlled trial. A sample of postpartum mothers (n = 738)
      and fathers (n = 738) will be randomly assigned to either the experimental or the control
      groups.

      Study instruments: Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and Postpartum Bonding
      Questionnaire (PBQ).

      Intervention: The intervention consists of four weekly 20-30 minutes telephone-administered
      counselling sessions on breastfeeding, delivered individually in the first month postpartum
      for mothers and fathers.

      Main outcome measures: The prevalence and duration of exclusive breastfeeding will be
      collected at 1, 2, 4 and 6 months postpartum. Postnatal depression and parent-infant boding
      will be assessed by the EPDS and the PBQ, respectively, at 2 and 6 months postpartum.

      Data analysis: Generalized linear mixed models and survival analysis will be conducted to
      compare differences in the outcomes between two groups.

      Potential application: The implementation of a simple, brief telephone-based intervention for
      breastfeeding families is most likely to be taken up in the primary health care setting. The
      results may better equip policy makers and health professionals to design health promotion
      programs for breastfeeding families, thus reducing the public health burden of childhood
      illness.

Breastfeeding telephone support

The Effect of a Father-involvement Breastfeeding Telephone Support Intervention on Exclusive and Sustained Breastfeeding: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

The prevalence/proportion of infants younger than 1 month who are exclusively breastfed is calculated as the number of infants younger than 1 month who are exclusively breastfed in the last 24 hours divided by the total number of infants younger than 1 month.

Assistant Professor

The prevalence of infants younger than 1 month who are exclusively breastfed is calculated as the number of infants younger than 1 month who are exclusively breastfed in the last 24 hours divided by the total number of infants younger than 1 month.

The prevalence of infants younger than 4 months who are exclusively breastfed is calculated as the number of infants younger than 4 months who are exclusively breastfed in the last 24 hours divided by the total number of infants younger than 4 months.

The prevalence of infants younger than 6 months who are exclusively breastfed is calculated as the number of infants younger than 6 months who are exclusively breastfed in the last 24 hours divided by the total number of infants younger than 6 months.

The duration of exclusive breastfeeding is measured as the infant's age in weeks when the women first introduce infant formula.

The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale is a 10-item self-report instrument used to assess the presence of depressive symptoms during the postnatal period. Each item is scored on a 4-point scale and total scores ranging from 0 to 30, with higher scores indicating more depressive symptoms.

The intervention consists of four weekly 20-30 minutes telephone-administered counselling sessions on breastfeeding, delivered individually in the first month postpartum for mothers and fathers.

Father-involvement Telephone Support Intervention on Breastfeeding: RCT

About this trial

Study ID

Status

Type

Phase

Placebo

Accepting

Not accepting

Trial Timing

What is this trial about?

What are the participation requirements?

Locations

Location

Status