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Below are articles that support specific interventions to advance MCH National Performance Measures (NPMs) and Standardized Measures (SMs). Most interventions contain multiple components as part of a coordinated strategy/approach.

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Displaying records 1 through 19 (19 total).

Arteaga S, Hubbard E, Arcara J, Cuentos A, Armstead M, Jackson A, Gomez AM, Marshall C. "They're gonna be there to advocate for me so I'm not by myself": A qualitative analysis of Black women's motivations for seeking and experiences with community doula care. Women Birth. 2023 May;36(3):257-263. doi: 10.1016/j.wombi.2022.08.007. Epub 2022 Sep 9. PMID: 36089498; PMCID: PMC10321332.

Evidence Rating: Moderate

Intervention Components (click on component to see a list of all articles that use that intervention): Professional Support,

Intervention Description: Data are from a mixed methods process evaluation of an organization providing free community doula services in San Francisco, California. We conducted two rounds of qualitative interviews with doula clients who identified as Black or Pacific Islander between August 2019 and March 2020. Interviews explored clients’ knowledge of, experiences with, and motivations for seeking doula care and their perceptions of the services they received. We utilized a Rapid Assessment Process to synthesize findings and thematic analysis.

Intervention Results: Clients’ motivations for seeking doula care included general lack of support and knowledge of mistreatment experienced by Black women in hospital settings. Doulas provided support in the form of infor- mation about the perinatal period and clients’ rights, advocacy in hospital settings, and connection to resources beyond pregnancy and birth. Some clients described doulas as helping them stay focused and make decisions during difficult labor experiences and described positive birth experiences despite experiencing complications.

Conclusion: Community doulas play an instrumental role in the birth experiences of Black women and birthing people. Efforts should be made to expand access to this needed support via policy and hospital practices.

Study Design: Qualitative

Setting: Community-based

Population of Focus: Black women

Sample Size: 14

Age Range: 26-33

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Assibey-Mensah, V., Suter, B., Thevenet-Morrison, K., Widanka, H., Edmunds, L., Sekhobo, J., & Dozier, A. (2019). Effectiveness of peer counselor support on breastfeeding outcomes in WIC-enrolled women. Journal of nutrition education and behavior, 51(6), 650-657.

Evidence Rating: Moderate Evidence

Intervention Components (click on component to see a list of all articles that use that intervention): PATIENT_CONSUMER, Peer Counselor, Educational Material, Telephone Support, PROFESSIONAL_CAREGIVER, Education/Training (caregiver)

Intervention Description: In efforts to improve breeastfeeding rates, WIC established the Breastfeeding peer Counselor program (BFPC) model to improve breastfeeding rates among participants. The Upstate New York WIC BFPC program (UNYWIC BFPC) began with volunteers who provided support to WIC participants referred to BFPC services. The BFPCs completed Loving Support training. BFPC contacts included telephone, in-person (WIC clinic or home), and mailings.

Intervention Results: Mothers who accepted BFPC referrals and had at least 1 phone conversation or in-person contact had a significant 35% to 164% increased odds of positive BF outcomes. Mailings did not significantly improve outcomes.

Conclusion: The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children may need to identify barriers to BF duration and implement interventions in communities with low BF rates. Future studies may benefit from evaluating the impact of combined in-person support and phone contacts during the prenatal and postpartum periods on BF outcomes.

Study Design: Secondary data analysis

Setting: The Upstate New York WIC Breastfeeding Peer Counselor program

Population of Focus: WIC-enrolled mothers with live singleton births who accepted a Breastfeeding Peer Counselor program referral

Sample Size: 2,149 mothers

Age Range: 5 day old infants (prenatal and postnatal contact with mothers)

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Edmunds, L. S., Lee, F. F., Eldridge, J. D., & Sekhobo, J. P. (2017). Outcome evaluation of the You Can Do It initiative to promote exclusive breastfeeding among women enrolled in the New York State WIC program by race/ethnicity. Journal of nutrition education and behavior, 49(7), S162-S168.

Evidence Rating: Moderate Evidence

Intervention Components (click on component to see a list of all articles that use that intervention): PATIENT_CONSUMER, Peer Counselor, Assessment (PATIENT_CONSUMER), Professional Support, HEALTH_CARE_PROVIDER_PRACTICE, Other (Provider Practice), COMMUNITY, Social Supports, Individual Supports,

Intervention Description: In 2014, the New York State WIC program launched the You Can Do it (YCDI) initiative in 12 WIC clinics. This multicomponent intevention, which was originally developed by the Vermont WIC program, was designed to improve participants' knowledge, attitudes, confidence, and social support to breastfeed exclusively through a screening and tailored counseling protocol combined with peer counselor and professional support spanning the prenatal and early postpartum periods. This multicomponent intervention paired with a yearlong learning community in the 12 clinics.

Intervention Results: Prevalence of exclusive BF at 7 and 30 days was significantly higher among BAPT women compared with non-BAPT or baseline cohorts. Non-Hispanic black and Hispanic women in the BAPT cohort achieved significantly higher exclusive BF rates at 30 and 60 days compared with those in non-BAPT and baseline cohorts.

Conclusion: The initiative seems to be effective at increasing exclusive BF, particularly among non-Hispanic black and Hispanic women in the New York State WIC program.

Study Design: Quasi-experimental study

Setting: 12 WIC clinics in New York State

Population of Focus: Prenatal women enrolled in WIC during the first trimester of pregnancy who intended to breastfeed or were undecided

Sample Size: Baseline cohort of 688 mother-infant dyads and two intervention cohorts: Breastfeeding Attrition Prediction Tool (BAPT) (n=362 monther-infant dyads) and non-BAPT (n=347 mother-infant dyads); 12 WIC clinics; 47 WIC staff members

Age Range: Women 18 years and older

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Fifolt M, Preskitt J, Johnson HH, Johns E, Zeribi KA, Arbour M. Using Continuous Quality Improvement Tools to Promote Tobacco Cessation Among Primary Caregivers in a Home Visiting Program in Alabama. J Public Health Manag Pract. 2019 Nov/Dec;25(6):543-546. doi: 10.1097/PHH.0000000000000833. PMID: 30180108.

Evidence Rating: Moderate

Intervention Components (click on component to see a list of all articles that use that intervention): Home Visit (caregiver), Adult-led Support/Counseling/Remediation, Educational Material, PROFESSIONAL_CAREGIVER, PATIENT_CONSUMER, YOUTH

Intervention Description: This article reports methods and results of Alabama's continuous quality improvement (CQI) project and lessons learned in developing CQI capabilities among state and local public health practitioners.

Intervention Results: On the basis of CQI interventions, Alabama reached its goal; 12 of 20 primary caregivers in 2 home visiting programs made quit attempts. Alabama utilized multiple CQI tools to reach an ambitious, behavior-based aim;

Conclusion: these same concepts could be broadly applied to quality improvement initiatives in any federal or state public health program to guide process- and outcomes-based improvement efforts.

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Francis, J., Mildon, A., Stewart, S., Underhill, B., Ismail, S., Di Ruggiero, E., ... & O’Connor, D. L. (2021). Breastfeeding rates are high in a prenatal community support program targeting vulnerable women and offering enhanced postnatal lactation support: a prospective cohort study. International journal for equity in health, 20(1), 1-13.

Evidence Rating: Emerging Evidence

Intervention Components (click on component to see a list of all articles that use that intervention): PATIENT_CONSUMER, Educational Material, Lactation Consultant, Provision of Breastfeeding Item, Group Education, Incentives, Professional Support, COMMUNITY, Individual Supports,

Intervention Description: The Canada Prenatal Nutrition Program (CPNP) aims to improve birth outcomes and promote and support breastfeeding among vulnerable women. Using charitable donations, the Parkdale Parents' Primary Prevention Project (5Ps) CPNP provides postnatal lactation support to its clients in addition to standard prenatal services (group education workshops, individualized support from public health nurses and dieticians, community referrals, snacks, two public transit tokens, grocery store gift card, self-serve food bank, and childcare). This lactation support program was designed and implemented by 5Ps CPNP staff and includes three components: 1) gift package of breastfeeding and infant care supplies; 2) IBCLC visits within 48 h of referral; and 3) double electric breast pump.

Intervention Results: Ninety-one percent of participants were born outside of Canada; 55% had incomes below the Low-Income Cut-Off; and 55% reported food insecurity. All participants initiated breastfeeding, 84% continued for 6 months and 16% exclusively breastfed for 6 months. Among breastfed infants, ≥76% received vitamin D supplementation. Approximately 50% of infants were introduced to solids before 6 months. Only high school education or less and food insecurity were associated with lower breastfeeding rates. Overall, 75% of participants received at least one visit with a lactation consultant and 95% of these received a breast pump.

Conclusion: This study provides initial evidence that postnatal lactation support can be delivered within a CPNP site, with high uptake by clients. While all participants initiated breastfeeding and 84% continued for 6 months, adherence to the recommended 6 months of exclusive breastfeeding was low. Further research is needed to better understand the barriers to exclusive breastfeeding and how to support this practice among vulnerable women.

Study Design: Evaluation data

Setting: A Canada Prenatal Nutrition Program site in Toronto

Population of Focus: Pregnant women in the catchment area

Sample Size: 199 women

Age Range: Women 18 years and older

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French, C. D., Shafique, M. A., Bang, H., & Matias, S. L. (2023). Perinatal Hospital Practices Are Associated with Breastfeeding through 5 Months Postpartum among Women and Infants from Low-Income Households. The Journal of Nutrition, 153(1), 322-330.

Evidence Rating: Emerging

Intervention Components (click on component to see a list of all articles that use that intervention): Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative, HEALTH_CARE_PROVIDER_PRACTICE, Professional Support,

Intervention Description: We assessed the association between BF-related hospital practices (rooming-in, support from hospital staff, and provision of a pro-formula gift pack) and the odds of any or exclusive BF through 5 mo among infants and mothers enrolled in WIC.

Intervention Results: Rooming-in and strong hospital staff support were associated with higher odds of any BF at 1, 3, and 5 mo postpartum. Provision of a pro-formula gift pack was negatively associated with any BF at all time points and with exclusive BF at 1 mo. Each additional BF-friendly hospital practice experienced was associated with 47% to 85% higher odds of any BF over the first 5 mo and 31% to 36% higher odds of exclusive BF over the first 3 mo.

Conclusion: Exposure to BF-friendly hospital practices was associated with BF beyond the hospital stay. Expanding BF-friendly policies at the hospital could increase BF rates in the United States WIC-served population.

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Gleason, S., Wilkin, M. K., Sallack, L., Whaley, S. E., Martinez, C., & Paolicelli, C. (2020). Breastfeeding duration is associated with WIC site-level breastfeeding support practices. Journal of nutrition education and behavior, 52(7), 680-687.

Evidence Rating: Moderate Evidence

Intervention Components (click on component to see a list of all articles that use that intervention): PATIENT_CONSUMER, Educational Material, Home Visits, Lactation Consultants, Peer Counselor, Professional Support,

Intervention Description: Breastfeeding education and support are core services provided by WIC, and numerous policies and initiatives ensure breastfeeding support is provided throughout the prenatal period and first year postpartum. Site-level characteristics related to staffing, policies, and practices that support breastfeeding were collected for the WIC Infant and Toddler Feeding Practices Study-2 (WIC ITEPS-2). Study data included interviews with 27 WIC state agency representatives affiliated with study sites, site visits to all 80 sites to collect data on facilities and staffing and a one hour interview with a site supervisor or coordinator, and surveys with staff (n=802) working in each of the 80 sites during the period when participants were enrolled in the study.

Intervention Results: Five WIC site-level supports were significantly and independently associated with any and fully breastfeeding: access to breastfeeding peer counselors, access to International Board Certified Lactation Consultants, postnatal home visits, allowing any WIC staff member to provide breast pump education, and having a policy not to provide formula during the first 30 days postpartum. Likelihood of any and fully breastfeeding increased with each additional site-level support present (odds ratio = 1.09, 95% confidence interval, 1.06–1.12; and odds ratio = 1.26, 95% confidence interval, 1.21–1.31, respectively).

Conclusion: Positive associations between site-level supports and breastfeeding at 2, 6, and 12 months were observed. Additional research is needed to understand how site-level supports interrelate and whether specific combinations are more effective, and to identify variations in implementation of breastfeeding supports.

Study Design: Secondary analysis

Setting: WIC programs in 27 states

Population of Focus: Women enrolled in WIC for the first time for that pregnancy prenatally or before their infant was 2.5 months old in 80 WIC sites across 27 states and territories during the 20 week recruitment period

Sample Size: 1,235 mothers and their infants (80 WIC sites; 802 staff surveys)

Age Range: Women 18 years and older

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Hardeman RR, Karbeah J, Almanza J, Kozhimannil KB. Roots Community Birth Center: A culturally-centered care model for improving value and equity in childbirth. Healthc (Amst). 2020 Mar;8(1):100367. doi: 10.1016/j.hjdsi.2019.100367. Epub 2019 Jul 29. PMID: 31371235.

Evidence Rating: Emerging

Intervention Components (click on component to see a list of all articles that use that intervention): Professional Support, Community Birth Centers

Intervention Description: The intervention described in the document pertains to the culturally-centered care model implemented at Roots Community Birth Center. This model focuses on addressing racial disparities in birth outcomes by providing culturally-centered and relationship-centered care to pregnant individuals.

Intervention Results: Overall, the document suggests that culturally-centered care models have the potential to improve equity in childbirth outcomes and reduce disparities in birth outcomes among different racial and ethnic groups. However, the financial challenges faced by birth centers like Roots Community Birth Center highlight the need for policy and payment innovations to support the implementation of such models in maternity care

Conclusion: Roots Community Birth Center is one model of care that grew out of a desire to address persistent racial inequities in childbirth, using a systems-level approach. Such a model may serve as an instructive example for innovation in other clinical areas where health inequities are prevalent.

Study Design: Qualitative

Setting: Community-based

Population of Focus: African American women

Sample Size: 284 families

Age Range: Not disclosed

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Hmiel L, Collins C, Brown P, Cherney E, Farmer C. "We have this awesome organization where it was built by women for women like us": Supporting African American women through their pregnancies and beyond. Soc Work Health Care. 2019 Jul;58(6):579-595. doi: 10.1080/00981389.2019.1597007. Epub 2019 Apr 1. PMID: 30933655.

Evidence Rating: Moderate

Intervention Components (click on component to see a list of all articles that use that intervention): Professional Support,

Intervention Description: This study examined a novel community-based perinatal support professional (PSP) program, Birthing Beautiful Communities (BBC), in Cleveland, Ohio. BBC provides services for pregnant African American women in underserved neighborhoods with the goal of decreasing infant mortality and low birthweight rates by addressing chronic stress. Focus groups and one individual interview were conducted with the program's 14 PSPs, and 25 clients were interviewed individually.

Intervention Results: Interviews were analyzed inductively using qualitative thematic analysis to identify pervasive themes. Coders identified major themes of stress, resilience, community, cultural matching, advocacy, self-care, transformation, and self-actualization. BBC PSPs and clients alike reported the program is transforming the lives of clients by helping them address stressors.

Conclusion: Findings suggest the community-based PSP model is an important but underused intervention in addressing infant mortality.

Study Design: Qualitative

Setting: Community-based

Population of Focus: Pregnant African American women

Sample Size: Unknown

Age Range: Not disclosed

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Huang, P., Yao, J., Liu, X., & Luo, B. (2019). Individualized intervention to improve rates of exclusive breastfeeding: A randomised controlled trial. Medicine, 98(47).

Evidence Rating: Moderate Evidence

Intervention Components (click on component to see a list of all articles that use that intervention): PATIENT_CONSUMER, Educational Material, Professional Support,

Intervention Description: The aim of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of indivdualized intervention compared with routine care in improving rates of exclusive breastfeeding. We provided individual antenatal breastfeeding education and postnatal lactation support to intervention group. Control group received routine care. More specifically, the intervention consisted of individual antenatal breastfeeding education and postnatal lactation support. Participants were visited by a researcher at hospital admission. At the time of admission, the researcher used the breastfeeding attrition prediction scale and individualized the intervention based on the results. After delivery, researchers provided professional guidance for mothers. After discharge, researchers asked for monthly details of the breastfeeding situation and gave guidance by telephone follow-up after maternal hospital discharge to postpartum 4 months. They also received the same routine antenatal and postnatal obstretric care.

Intervention Results: We recruited 352 women of whom 176 were randomized to intervention group, 176 to control group. In total, 293 (83.2%) completed 4 months of follow-up. At discharge from hospital, 43.2% of women randomized to intervention group were exclusively breastfeeding compared with 30.0% of women in control group (relative risk 1.78; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.12–2.82). At 4 months, 70.9% of women in the intervention group were exclusively breastfeeding compared with 46.2% of the women in the control group (2.84; 1.76–4.60). At discharge from hospital, 95.1% of women in the intervention group were breastfeeding on demand compared with 68.1% of women receiving routine care (9.00; 4.09–19.74). At 4 months, 94.6% of women in intervention group were breastfeeding on demand compared with 75.9% of women in the control group (5.57; 2.48–12.49).

Conclusion: The regular ongoing individualized antenatal education and postnatal support can effective increase the rates of exclusive breastfeeding from delivery to postpartum 4 months and change the breastfeeding behavior.

Study Design: RCT

Setting: Hospital in China

Population of Focus: Women > 34 weeks gestation recruited from from the obstetric admission office

Sample Size: 352 women (176 intervention group and 176 control group)

Age Range: Women 18 years and older

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Kegler MC, Haardörfer R, Melanson T, Allen L, Bundy LT, Kreuter MW, Williams RS, Hovell MF, Mullen PD. Steps Toward Scalability: Illustrations From a Smoke-Free Homes Program. Health Educ Behav. 2019 Oct;46(5):773-781. doi: 10.1177/1090198119848767. Epub 2019 Jun 5. PMID: 31165637; PMCID: PMC7592342.

Evidence Rating: Moderate

Intervention Components (click on component to see a list of all articles that use that intervention): Telephone Support, Adult-led Support/Counseling/Remediation, Educational Material (caregiver), PROFESSIONAL_CAREGIVER, PATIENT_CONSUMER, YOUTH

Intervention Description: Using data from a dissemination study in collaboration with five 2-1-1 call centers in Ohio, Florida, Oklahoma, and Alabama (n = 2,345 households), this article examines key dimensions of scalability, including effectiveness by subpopulation, secondary outcomes, identification of core elements driving effectiveness, and cost-effectiveness.

Intervention Results: Creating a smoke-free home was associated with a new smoke-free vehicle rule (odds ratio [OR] = 3.38, confidence interval [CI 2.58, 4.42]), decreased exposure to secondhand smoke among nonsmokers (b = -2.33, p < .0001), and increased cessation among smokers (OR = 5.8, CI [3.81, 8.81]). Use of each program component was significantly associated with success in creating a smoke-free home. Using an intent-to-treat effect size of 40.1%, program benefits from 5 years of health care savings exceed program costs yielding a net savings of $9,633 for delivery to 100 households.

Conclusion: Cost effectiveness, subpopulation analyses, and identification of core elements can help in assessing the scalability potential of research-tested interventions such as this smoke-free homes program.

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Leruth, C., Goodman, J., Bragg, B., & Gray, D. (2017). A multilevel approach to breastfeeding promotion: Using healthy start to deliver individual support and drive collective impact. Maternal and child health journal, 21(1), 4-10.

Evidence Rating: Emerging Evidence

Intervention Components (click on component to see a list of all articles that use that intervention): PATIENT_CONSUMER, Educational Material, Professional Support, HEALTH_CARE_PROVIDER_PRACTICE, Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative, COMMUNITY, Individual Supports,

Intervention Description: The Westside Healthy Start Program (WHS), located in Chicago, Illinois, developed an ongoing multilevel approach to breastfeeding promotion. Key elements of the WHS breastfeeding model include individual education and counseling from pregnancy to 6 months postpartum and partnership with a local safety-net hospital to implement the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative and provide lactation support to delivering patients. All WHS participants receive general breastfeeding education from case managers throughout pregnancy (such as information about breastfeeding benefits) and one face-to-face visit from a BFC in the third trimester for more personalized and comprehensive support. WHS collaborates with the largest delivering hospital in the service area, a safety-net provider, to improve the breastfeeding environment and systems of care.

Intervention Results: In the year our model was implemented, 44.6% (49/110) of prenatal WHS participants reported that they planned to breastfeed, and 67.0% (183/273) of delivered partici- pants initiated. Among participants reaching 6 months postpartum, 10.5% (9/86) were breastfeeding. WHS also had 2667 encounters with women delivering at our partner hospital during breastfeeding rounds, with 65.1% of contacts initiating. Community data was not available to assess the efficacy of our model at the local level. However, WHS participants fared better than all delivering patients at our partner hospital, where 65.0% initiated in 2015.

Conclusion: Healthy Start programs are a promising vehicle to improve breastfeeding initiation at the individual and community level. Additional evaluation is necessary to understand barriers to duration and services needed for this population.

Study Design: Evaluation data

Setting: Westside Healthy Start program located in Chicago, IL

Population of Focus: Low-income, African-American women who are pregnant

Sample Size: 652 women

Age Range: Women <17 to 45 years old

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McKelvey, L. M., Lewis, K. N., Beavers, J., Casey, P. H., Irby, C., & Goudie, A. (2021). Home Visiting for NICU Graduates: Impacts of Following Baby Back Home. Pediatrics, 148(1), e2020029397. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2020-029397

Evidence Rating: Moderate

Intervention Components (click on component to see a list of all articles that use that intervention): Home Visits, Professional Support, Educational Material (caregiver),

Intervention Description: The Following Baby Back Home (FBBH) home visiting program supports families of high-risk low birth weight preterm infants after discharge from a hospital NICU. This study compares the health care use, immunization, and infant mortality rate of low birth weight preterm infants enrolled in FBBH with similar infants not in the program.

Intervention Results: In the first year after discharge and compared with a propensity-score matched cohort of control infants, those enrolled in FBBH were significantly more likely to have higher numbers of medical appointments and more compliant immunization history. The odds of dying in the first year of life for control infants was 4.4 times (95% confidence interval: 1.2-20.7) higher than those managed in the program.

Conclusion: A goal of the FBBH home visiting program is to work with parents to educate and support them as they care for their medically fragile infants. We conclude that education and support was instrumental in the infant health care use and outcome differences we observed during the first year of life.

Study Design: Cross-sectional prospective quasi-experimental study

Setting: Following Baby Back Home program in Arkansas

Population of Focus: Children enrolled in the Following Baby Back Home program in Arkansas from January 2013 to December 2017

Sample Size: 498 children

Age Range: Infants in the first year of life

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Miremberg, H., Yirmiya, K., Rona, S., Gonen, N., Marom, O., Pohol, A., ... & Weiner, E. (2022). Smartphone-based counseling and support platform and the effect on postpartum lactation: a randomized controlled trial. American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology MFM, 4(2), 100543.

Evidence Rating: Moderate

Intervention Components (click on component to see a list of all articles that use that intervention): Technology-Based Support, Professional Support, PATIENT_CONSUMER

Intervention Description: This study aimed to investigate the impact of introducing a smartphone-based daily feedback and counseling platform between women after delivery and a multidisciplinary lactation support team on lactation rates and various maternal and neonatal outcomes. Counseling was provided via a specifically developed application from a multidisciplinary team (obstetricians, nurses, lactation counselors, and psychologist) in an attempt to assist and counsel to maintain lactation.

Intervention Results: A total of 197 patients were recruited, 97 in the App group and 100 in the control group. The 2 groups did not differ in any background or delivery characteristics. The App group showed higher rates of lactation 6 weeks after delivery (96.9% vs 82.0%; P<.001) and 3 months after delivery (81.4% vs 69.0%; P=.049) than the control group. Patients in the App group reported excellent satisfaction from the use of the application and their overall postnatal care.

Conclusion: Our study has provided further information on the growing efficacy of technology platforms in obstetrical care. The introduction of a smartphone-based daily feedback and counseling platform between postpartum patients and a multidisciplinary lactation support team increased the lactation rates after delivery with excellent patient satisfaction.

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Munyan, K., & Kennedy, E. (2022). Perceptions of online informational social support among mothers in a lactation-focused virtual community: A survey study. Women's Health, 18, 17455057221125088.

Evidence Rating: Moderate

Intervention Components (click on component to see a list of all articles that use that intervention): Technology-Based Support, Professional Support, Peer Counselor, PATIENT_CONSUMER

Intervention Description: The aims of this study were to describe levels of perceived informational social support among mothers in an online virtual community and to determine which features of the virtual community were perceived most favorably by breastfeeding mothers.

Intervention Results: In regard to online social support specific to information seeking, the reported social support was moderate to high (M=35.53, range=17–48). Most items had a score average of approximately 3, indicating that participants perceived informational support “Pretty often” from their group interactions. Participants in this study had an average Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy–Short Form score of 57.91, indicating a moderately high level of breastfeeding self-efficacy. Content analysis of open-ended items regarding favorable characteristics of the virtual community indicated participants appreciated the immediacy of feedback and the presence of lactation support professionals within the community.

Conclusion: Mothers in the lactation professional-led virtual community perceived moderately high support in health information seeking and experienced moderately high breastfeeding self-efficacy. Additional work is needed to determine the impact of participation in virtual communities on breastfeeding outcomes.

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Uzunçakmak, T., Gökşin, İ., & Ayaz-Alkaya, S. (2022). The effect of social media-based support on breastfeeding self-efficacy: a randomised controlled trial. The European Journal of Contraception & Reproductive Health Care, 27(2), 159-165.

Evidence Rating: Moderate

Intervention Components (click on component to see a list of all articles that use that intervention): Technology-Based Support, Professional Support,

Intervention Description: The study aimed to determine the effect of breastfeeding support through social media on women’s breastfeeding self-efficacy. Methods

Intervention Results: At 3 and 6 months there was a statistically significant difference in BSES-SF mean scores between the intervention and control groups (p < 0.05). BSES-SF scores in the intervention group were higher at 3 and 6 months compared with baseline, while BSES-SF scores in the control group were lower at 6 months compared with baseline.

Conclusion: Women’s breastfeeding self-efficacy was improved through a social media-based teaching and counselling intervention. Health care professionals should make use of social media tools to improve women’s breastfeeding self-efficacy and encourage continuity of breastfeeding

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Van Dellen, S. A., Wisse, B., Mobach, M. P., & Dijkstra, A. (2019). The effect of a breastfeeding support programme on breastfeeding duration and exclusivity: a quasi-experiment. BMC public health, 19(1), 1-12.

Evidence Rating: Moderate Evidence

Intervention Components (click on component to see a list of all articles that use that intervention): PATIENT_CONSUMER, Educational Material, Lactation Consultant, Telephone Support, Partner-Level Intervention, Professional Support,

Intervention Description: The study examines the effectiveness of a comprehensive, evidence-based, professional support intervention for breastfeeding that was implemented in the Netherlands: the Breastfeeding Support Program (BSP). The BSP tries to increase the proportion of mothers who breastfeed exclusively for six months or longer by positively influencing 1) the mother's attitude towards breastfeeding (by focusing on the positive effects of exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months or longer for mother and child), 2) the subjective norm (by explicitly involving the father and by forming a reliable source of support and positive messages about breastfeeding throughout the program), and 3) the mother's perceived behavioral control (by providing information, encouragement, and practical support to improve breastfeeding skills). The BSP combines both education and support, extends from pregnancy to the postnatal period, and uses a protocolled series of six individual consults delivered by an IBCLC. The sixth and final consult is held 10 weeks after delivery by telpehone and focuses on further support for returning to work.

Intervention Results: The effect of the BSP on survival rates for any and exclusive breastfeeding were significant while controlling for differences between the two groups at baseline (respectively HR = 0.34, p < .001 [95% CI = 0.18–0.61] and HR = 0.46, p < .001 [95% CI = 0.29–0.72]). Among mothers in the BSP group there was on average 66% less risk of cessation of any breastfeeding and on average 54% less risk of cessation of exclusive breastfeeding at any point in time compared to those in the control group.

Conclusion: The BSP appears to be an effective means to delay cessation of any and exclusive breastfeeding cessation and therefore to increase breastfeeding duration and exclusivity. This is an important finding, because earlier cessation of breastfeeding than desired is a common problem in many countries. Future research into the effectiveness of the BSP could consider random assignment to conditions and test the effectiveness of the intervention in other populations to investigate further whether wide-scale implementation of this intervention could be useful to promote breastfeeding.

Study Design: Quasi-experimental study

Setting: Breastfeeding Support Program in the Netherlands

Population of Focus: Pregnant women who were planning to breastfeed and who made a personal decision to enroll in the BSP

Sample Size: 138 women (66 mothers in the intervention group and 72 mothers in the control group)

Age Range: Women 18 years and older

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Welch, Leseliey MPH, MBA; Branch Canady, Renee PhD, MPA; Harmell, Chelsea MPH; White, Nicole BS, CPM; Snow, Char'ly MSN, CNM; Kane Low, Lisa PhD, CNM, FACNM, FAAN. We Are Not Asking Permission to Save Our Own Lives: Black-Led Birth Centers to Address Health Inequities. The Journal of Perinatal & Neonatal Nursing 36(2):p 138-149, April/June 2022. | DOI: 10.1097/JPN.0000000000000649

Evidence Rating: Emerging

Intervention Components (click on component to see a list of all articles that use that intervention): Professional Support, Community Birth Centers

Intervention Description: This article describes a departure from traditional White supremacist research models that privilege quantitative outcomes to the exclusion of iterative processes, lived experiences, and consciousness-raising. A community organizing approach to birth center development led by Black women and rooted in equity values of safety, love, trust, and justice is outlined.

Intervention Results: Birth Detroit is a Black-led, community-informed model that includes integration of evidence-based approaches to improving health outcomes and that embraces community midwifery prenatal care and a strategic trajectory to open a birth center in the city of Detroit.

Conclusion: Birth Detroit demonstrates the operationalization of a Black feminist standpoint, lifts up the power of communities to lead in their own care, and offers a blueprint for action to improve inequities and maternal-infant health in Black communities.

Study Design: Qualitative

Setting: Community-based

Population of Focus: African American women

Sample Size: 391

Age Range: Not disclosed

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Witt, R., Vatti, T., Lasko, L., & Witt, A. M. (2021). Team-Based Breastfeeding Support at a Federally Qualified Health Center: Efficacy, Utilization, and Patient Satisfaction. Breastfeeding Medicine.

Evidence Rating: Moderate Evidence

Intervention Components (click on component to see a list of all articles that use that intervention): PATIENT_CONSUMER, Educational Materials, Lactation Consultant, Other Education, Professional Support, HEALTH_CARE_PROVIDER_PRACTICE, Other (Provider Practice),

Intervention Description: A team-based, integrated lactation consultant (LC) and primary care provider (PCP) program improves breastfeeding rates in some outpatient settings, but only a limited number of studies have assessed efficacy in socioeconomically and racially diverse communities. The study intervention implemented routine LC/PCP visits for families at their first newborn visit to the FQHC following hospital discharge. A typical team-based visit was scheduled for 40 minutes with the RN/LC present for the entire visit and the PCP joining for about 10 minutes to examine the infant and coordinate the plan of care. The remaining 30 minutes was dedicated to lactation support, including addressing latch, milk supply, decreasing maternal pain, and breastfeeding anticipatory guidance.

Intervention Results: Among patients who initiated breastfeeding, those who received a LC/PCP visit were significantly more likely to be breastfeeding at 2 weeks (94% versus 80%, p = 0.004) and 4 months (68% versus 45%, p = 0.01). However, breastfeeding rates for the whole practice were not significantly different before and after implementation. Seventy-two percent of breastfeeding families saw a LC (n = 204). Median LC visit per breastfeeding patient was 1.18 (standard deviation [SD] +1.2). Patient survey reported that the three most commonly helpful aspects of the visit were “latch instruction” (60%), “breastfeeding questions answered” (80%) and “learning about massage and hand expression” (50%).

Conclusion: Team-based LC/PCP care is feasible at a FQHC. Patients found it helpful. Among families who initiated breastfeeding, receiving LC/PCP care was associated with increased breastfeeding duration through 4 months.

Study Design: Retrospective chart review

Setting: Federally Qualified Health Center in Cleveland, OH

Population of Focus: Women and infants receiving care at a Federally Qualified Health Center

Sample Size: Pre (n=197 women) and post (n=245 women)

Age Range: Women 18 years and older

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