A structured telephonic counselling to promote the exclusive breastfeeding of healthy babies aged zero to six months: a pilot study

Abstract

This pilot study aimed to test the effectiveness of a structured telephonic counselling (STC) on exclusive breastfeeding (EB) on healthy babies. The study was carried out on 114 primiparous women from February to March 2009. After randomization, women were divided into two groups: 55 receiving STC and 59 receiving conventional counselling. At 1, 3 and 5 months after delivery, a nurse specialist evaluated the EB rates, the influence of mother's educational level and employment status on EB. Breastfeeding rates in STC were higher compared to conventional counselling (P < 0.01); resuming work was not an EB discouraging variable as 74.5% women in the STC resumed work vs. 54.2% of the conventional counselling. Breastfeeding promotion should start during pregnancy, advising women about benefits for the child in receiving human milk. STC should be used to improve EB in primiparous women.