Effect of continued support and mother's counseling on the duration of exclusive breastfeeding in a rural area in Egypt

Abstract

Background: Breastfeeding counseling is an effective public health intervention to increase rates of any and exclusive breastfeeding. This work aimed to study the effect of breastfeeding education, continued support, and mothers' counseling on initiation and continuation of exclusive breastfeeding. Methods: This quasi-experimental study was carried out on 176 mothers and their infants who were divided into two equal groups (control group): received the routine health education service as regards breastfeeding, and (intervention group): received the routine service in addition to continued support on initiation and continuation of exclusive breastfeeding.Results: There was a significant difference between the two studied groups as regard duration of exclusive breastfeeding, mean of this duration and period of follow-up (P=0.000). There was highly significant difference between the two studied groups as regards method of communication and length of the period of follow-up (p<0.001). There was non-significant difference between the two studied groups as regards socio-demographic characteristics of the infants and progress of the nutritional status by the type of measurement by the period of follow-up.Conclusions: Skilled breastfeeding counseling as part of comprehensive breastfeeding policies and programs in health facilities can increase the duration of exclusive breastfeeding up to six months. In addition, the ongoing individualized support and counseling can solve most of the problems that face mothers during breastfeeding. Exclusive breastfeeding does not significantly affect an infant’s weight or length, but without doubt, can improve the nutritional status of malnourished infants.