Effect of a Mobile Application on Breastfeeding Rates Among Mothers Who Have Cesarean Deliveries: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Aim: Cesarean section often translates to negative impacts on breastfeeding rates. This study aims to evaluate the effect of a mobile application on breastfeeding outcomes among mothers who had cesarean sections using a randomized controlled trial in Vietnam in 2020-2022. Methods: A triple-blinded randomized trial of a mobile application was conducted. The mobile application was tailored to a Vietnamese cultural context with two separate versions, one for the intervention and one for the control. The intervention group version auto-generated three messages per week and linked with the information in the application's library content to improve breastfeeding practices. In contrast, the control group's version of the application sent messages on related general maternal and child health care. Pregnant mothers were recruited during their antenatal visits and randomly assigned to one of the two groups. Outcomes of interest included early initiation of breastfeeding and exclusive breastfeeding rates. Results: A total of 293 in the intervention group and 275 mothers in the control who had undergone cesarean sections were included in the analyses. Significant increases were observed in the intervention group for early initiated breastfeeding within 2 hours (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.50, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.01-2.24) and exclusive breastfeeding during hospital stay (aOR = 1.60, 95% CI: 1.03-2.48). Conclusion: Our results support the use of a theory-based and designed mobile phone application as a part of a promising intervention to improve breastfeeding outcomes among mothers who have cesarean sections.

Keywords: breastfeeding; cesarean; early initiation; mHealth; mobile application; smartphone.