Effects of a telephone educational intervention on breastfeeding: a clinical trial

Abstract

Objective: To assess the effect of a long-term educational intervention by telephone on breastfeeding duration rates. Methods: This is a controlled randomized clinical trial conducted at a maternity hospital in the city of Fortaleza. A.so-called 240 women were answers in the immediate puerperium. An educational intervention was used by telephone centered on the principles of self-efficacy and with motivational interview approach at 7, 30, 90 and 150 days postpartum for the intervention group. The control group received the standard guidelines from the health service. Breastfeeding duration rates were verified using a questionnaire elaborated by the researcher applied to the intervention group and control group at 60, 120 and 180 days. To verify the effect of the intervention on the variables studied, the chi-square test and the Mann-Whitney U test were used. Brazilian Clinical Trial Registry: RBR-7m7vc8. Results: There was a difference between the groups regarding non-exclusive and exclusive breastfeeding duration and rates. The intervention group had higher breastfeeding rates at 60 (p<0.001), 120 (p=0.001) and 180 days (p=0.001), and exclusive breastfeeding, at 180 days (p=0.005), as well as non-exclusive (p<0.001) and exclusive (p<0.001) breastfeeding longer duration. Conclusion: the educational intervention by telephone has the potential to increase breastfeeding rates, duration and exclusivity, and can be used as an alternative to improve breastfeeding rates in the country.