The Influence of Breastfeeding Peer Support on Breastfeeding Satisfaction Among Japanese Mothers: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Background: Peer support may help mothers to feel satisfied with their breastfeeding and to continue breastfeeding. However, previous researchers have not examined the influence of peer support on the three breastfeeding-satisfaction domains.

Research aim: We aimed to examine the influence of telephone-based peer support on the following three domains of breastfeeding satisfaction among Japanese mothers: maternal satisfaction, perceived benefit to the infant, and lifestyle compatibility with breastfeeding.

Methods: Breastfeeding mothers were recruited at four maternity hospitals in Japan to participate in a randomized controlled trial. Data were collected 1 month and 4 months postpartum. Among all of the participants (N = 114), those in the intervention group (n = 60) received telephone-based peer support until 4 months postpartum, and participants in the control group (n = 54) received conventional support. Breastfeeding satisfaction was measured using the short version of the revised Japanese Maternal Breastfeeding Evaluation Scale. Generalized estimating equations and effect size analyses were used to examine the influence of the intervention.

Results: On the subscale measuring lifestyle compatibility, participants with peer support had a higher score than those without peer support: regression coefficient 1.54 (95% confidence interval [0.03, 3.04]). The effect size was 0.40 standard deviations among participants with low and mid-level scores at baseline.

Conclusion: Although peer support did not change maternal satisfaction or perceived benefit to the infant, it did increase lifestyle compatibility with breastfeeding among these Japanese mothers. This is evidence in favor of increasing the use of peer support.

Keywords: La Leche League International; breastfeeding; lactation counseling; randomized controlled trials; social support.