The aim of the randomized controlled trial (RCT) is to evaluate the effects of an intervention program delivered via WeChat platform to support exclusive breastfeeding in China. WeChat, a free smart phone application, is the most popular social networking platform in China. It will be used to deliver health educational messages to the study participants. Our hypothesis is that the intervention program can lead to at least a 10% increase in exclusive breastfeeding prevalence at 6 months when compared to the control group. A multicenter RCT of 1,000 participants will be conducted at four maternity hospitals in Chengdu, China. Eligible pregnant women who consent to participate will be recruited from the antenatal clinic at around 30 weeks of gestation and will be randomly assigned to either the intervention or control group on a 1:1 ratio. After randomization, all participants will be asked to scan a Quick Response code to follow our WeChat public account, which can send push notifications to alert participants for new content, topics, links to a searchable library and frequently asked questions and answers. From baseline until childbirth, control group participants will receive non-breastfeeding related messages, such as healthy lifestyle and nutrition during pregnancy, from WeChat, whereas the intervention group participants will receive breastfeeding related messages, including preparation for breastfeeding after birth and the health benefits of breastfeeding, from WeChat. After childbirth, intervention group mothers will continue to receive information about breastfeeding for 6 months. The investigators will use WeChat to remind mothers about the importance of exclusive breastfeeding, build confidence and motivate them to continue exclusive breastfeeding. Meanwhile, the control group participants will receive information on other topics of interest to mothers, such as immunization, safety, infant growth, and etc. Each participant will be interviewed in person by trained nurses at baseline, at discharge and be interviewed by telephone using structured questionnaires at 1, 4, and 6 months postpartum to collect detailed information on breastfeeding practices. All participants receive normal prenatal and postpartum maternity services. Cox proportional hazard models and multilevel mixed regression models will be performed respectively to compare the duration of exclusive breastfeeding and the rates of exclusive breastfeeding within six months postpartum between intervention and control groups.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH
Masking
TRIPLE
Enrollment
1,000
Participants in the intervention group will be asked to follow our WeChat public account immoderately after randomization. They will receive breastfeeding related messages three times a week from WeChat, including preparation for breastfeeding after birth and the health benefits of breastfeeding, from baseline until childbirth. After childbirth, intervention group mothers will continue to receive information, which is mainly about breastfeeding, once a week for 6 months. WeChat will send push notifications to remind mothers about the importance of exclusive breastfeeding, build confidence and motivate them to continue exclusive breastfeeding.
Participants in the control group will be asked to follow our WeChat public account immoderately after randomization. They will receive messages mainly on topics of healthy lifestyle and nutrition during pregnancy, from baseline until childbirth. After childbirth, they will continue to receive information on other topics of interest to mothers, such as immunization, safety, infant growth, and etc., until 6 months postpartum.
Chengdu Qingyang Maternal and Child Health Hospital
Chengdu, China
RECRUITINGExclusive breastfeeding rate at 6 months postpartum
Breastfeeding while giving no other food or liquid, not even water, with the exception of drops or syrups consisting of vitamins, mineral supplements or medicines.
Time frame: 6 months postpartum
Full breastfeeding rate at 6 months postpartum
Infants who are receiving almost all of their nutrients from breast milk but take some other liquids such as water, water-based drinks, oral rehydration solutions, ritual fluids, and drops or syrups.
Time frame: 6 months postpartum
Infant's first feed
% of infants fed with breastmilk as their first feed
Time frame: 0-7 days postpartum
Exclusive breastfeeding duration to 4 months postpartum
Breastfeeding while giving no other food or liquid, not even water, with the exception of drops or syrups consisting of vitamins, mineral supplements or medicines.
Time frame: 0-4 months postpartum
Exclusive breastfeeding duration to 6 months postpartum
Breastfeeding while giving no other food or liquid, not even water, with the exception of drops or syrups consisting of vitamins, mineral supplements or medicines.
Time frame: 0-6 months postpartum
Rate of early introduction of complementary feeding
Complementary feeding is defined as feeding infants with solid foods and liquids other than breastmilk or infant formula.
Time frame: 0-4 months postpartum
Any breastfeeding duration to 6 months postpartum
The child has received breastmilk (direct from the breast or expressed) with or without other drink, formula or other infant food
Time frame: 0-6 months postpartum
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