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Evaluating a woman-centred web-based breastfeeding educational intervention in Saudi Arabia : A before-and-after quasi-experimental study
Alahmed, Salma Frost, Steven Fernandez, Ritin Win, Khin Mutair, Abbas Al Harthi, Muna Al Meedya, Shahla
Alahmed, Salma
Frost, Steven
Fernandez, Ritin
Win, Khin
Mutair, Abbas Al
Harthi, Muna Al
Meedya, Shahla
Abstract
Background
Although digital educational resources are used worldwide to educate new parents, the impact of digital resources tailored specifically to women's needs on breastfeeding practices is not well explored.
Aim
The study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of using a women-centred Web-Based Breastfeeding Educational Resource (WEBBER) in increasing the rate of exclusive breastfeeding at one month after birth.
Methods
A quasi-experimental study with before and after intervention was conducted in one metropolitan hospital in Saudi Arabia. Participants were primiparous women (n=290) aged 18 or above who intended to breastfeed. The intervention involved introducing the WEBBER to pregnant women and reinforcing its uses as a routine breastfeeding educational resource. Women’s characteristics and infant feeding data were collected at one month after birth via an online survey.
Findings
The rate of exclusive breastfeeding at one month postpartum among the women who received the WEBBER intervention was nearly three times higher compared to the women prior to the introduction of the intervention (66 % vs. 26 %, p-value <.001). Furthermore, other predictors of exclusive breastfeeding at one month were the mother being unemployed, the baby not receiving infant formula in the hospital, and the mother having postnatal intention to continue breastfeeding for 6 months or more.
Discussion and conclusion
Using WEBBER as a routine breastfeeding educational resource increased the rate of exclusive breastfeeding one month after birth. Embedding woman-centred digital resources into routine breastfeeding education is an effective intervention for women in Saudi Arabia.
Keywords
exclusive breastfeeding, Saudi Arabia, web based breastfeeding educational, resources, WEBBER, Milky Way app, woman-centred
Date
2024
Type
Journal article
Journal
Women and Birth
Book
Volume
37
Issue
5
Page Range
Article Number
Article 101635
ACU Department
School of Nursing, Midwifery and Paramedicine
Faculty of Health Sciences
Faculty of Health Sciences
Relation URI
Source URL
Event URL
Open Access Status
Published as ‘gold’ (paid) open access
License
CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
File Access
Open
Notes
2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of Australian College of Midwives. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).