Document Type

Article

Department

Centre of Excellence in Women and Child Health; Paediatrics and Child Health (East Africa)

Abstract

Background One in ten newborns in sub-Saharan Africa weigh < 2500 g (i.e. low birthweight [LBW]). Breastfeeding difficulties from birth are common among LBW infants. This study explored the use of trained peer mothers to deliver breastfeeding support to mothers of LBW infants in healthcare facilities in rural Kenya.

Methods Five trained peer mothers provided breastfeeding support to 23 mothers of LBW infants across eight healthcare facilities in Homa Bay County. Qualitative, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 11 mothers, 10 healthcare providers and 5 peer mothers prior to and during the breastfeeding support intervention. Inductive thematic analysis was used.

Results Three key themes were discovered: mothers valued the confidence the peer mothers gave them to breastfeed their LBW infants, peer mothers found that the training and their previous experience caring for LBW infants enabled them to work collaboratively with mothers and healthcare providers and healthcare providers valued the additional time that the peer mothers were able to spend providing breastfeeding support.

Conclusions Facility-based breastfeeding peer support for mothers with LBW infants was acceptable among mothers and healthcare providers in the context of resource constraints, potentially improving uptake of appropriate breastfeeding practices among vulnerable mother–infant pairs. This strategy warrants more robust evaluation.

Publication (Name of Journal)

International Health

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1093/inthealth/ihag047

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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