Research output per year
Research output per year
Abstract
Background
Many women stop breastfeeding before they intended and report a lack of support from healthcare providers. Women with long-term conditions may have additional difficulties breastfeeding, which has resulted in lower rates of breastfeeding in this group. The aim of this work is to identify effective interventions to support all women to breastfeed.
Methods
A Systematic Review and meta-analysis was conducted to identify effective interventions for women with long-term conditions. This is part of the larger Action4Breastfeeding study which included an update of the Cochrane Review on breastfeeding support for healthy women with healthy term babies.
Results
The Systematic Review on breastfeeding support for women with long-term conditions identified 22 studies meeting the inclusion criteria. The majority of studies evaluated support interventions for women with obesity and/or gestational diabetes (n=12). Other conditions for which specific breastfeeding support interventions were identified include HIV, depression and anxiety, and substance misuse.
Meta-analysis suggested that breastfeeding support compared to usual care may have some small beneficial effects for exclusive breastfeeding at 3-4 months (Relative Risk [RR] 0.77, 95% Confidence Interval [CI] 0.60, 0.99) and at 6 months (RR 0.95, 95% CI 0.90-1.00). There was no evidence of beneficial effects for any breastfeeding at any of the time points (4-8 weeks, 3-4 months or 6 months) or for exclusive breastfeeding at 4-8 weeks.
Conclusion
Compared to interventions for women without long-term conditions, there is a lack of studies evaluating breastfeeding support interventions. Moreover, such interventions are less likely to be effective. Given the increase in prevalence of maternal long-term conditions, we need to better understand how support can also be effective for women with long-term conditions. Further linked work is also on-going to better understand how the effective interventions identified in these work packages can be implemented in an NHS setting.
Acknowledgment: This study is funded by the NIHR Health and Social Care Delivery Research programme (NIHR 130955). The views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the NIHR or the Department of Health and Social Care.
Many women stop breastfeeding before they intended and report a lack of support from healthcare providers. Women with long-term conditions may have additional difficulties breastfeeding, which has resulted in lower rates of breastfeeding in this group. The aim of this work is to identify effective interventions to support all women to breastfeed.
Methods
A Systematic Review and meta-analysis was conducted to identify effective interventions for women with long-term conditions. This is part of the larger Action4Breastfeeding study which included an update of the Cochrane Review on breastfeeding support for healthy women with healthy term babies.
Results
The Systematic Review on breastfeeding support for women with long-term conditions identified 22 studies meeting the inclusion criteria. The majority of studies evaluated support interventions for women with obesity and/or gestational diabetes (n=12). Other conditions for which specific breastfeeding support interventions were identified include HIV, depression and anxiety, and substance misuse.
Meta-analysis suggested that breastfeeding support compared to usual care may have some small beneficial effects for exclusive breastfeeding at 3-4 months (Relative Risk [RR] 0.77, 95% Confidence Interval [CI] 0.60, 0.99) and at 6 months (RR 0.95, 95% CI 0.90-1.00). There was no evidence of beneficial effects for any breastfeeding at any of the time points (4-8 weeks, 3-4 months or 6 months) or for exclusive breastfeeding at 4-8 weeks.
Conclusion
Compared to interventions for women without long-term conditions, there is a lack of studies evaluating breastfeeding support interventions. Moreover, such interventions are less likely to be effective. Given the increase in prevalence of maternal long-term conditions, we need to better understand how support can also be effective for women with long-term conditions. Further linked work is also on-going to better understand how the effective interventions identified in these work packages can be implemented in an NHS setting.
Acknowledgment: This study is funded by the NIHR Health and Social Care Delivery Research programme (NIHR 130955). The views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the NIHR or the Department of Health and Social Care.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Publication status | Published - 21 Sept 2023 |
| Event | The Nordic Breastfeeding Conference 2023 - Hanaholmen Cultural Centre, Espoo, Finland Duration: 21 Sept 2023 → 22 Sept 2023 Conference number: 10 https://www.hanaholmen.fi/en/event/the-nordic-breastfeeding-conference-2023/ |
Conference
| Conference | The Nordic Breastfeeding Conference 2023 |
|---|---|
| Country/Territory | Finland |
| City | Espoo |
| Period | 21/09/23 → 22/09/23 |
| Internet address |
Other files and links
Fingerprint
Dive into the research topics of 'Breastfeeding Support for Women with Long-Term Conditions'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.Research output
- 1 Poster
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Systematic review of breastfeeding support for women with long-term conditions
McFadden, A., Gavine, A., Shinwell, S., Farre, A. & Cumming, S., 22 Nov 2023.Research output: Contribution to conference › Poster › peer-review
Activities
- 1 Funding - grants and income which support research related activities
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Co-development of a toolkit to support the NHS and third sector organisations to implement evidence-based breastfeeding support for women in the UK
Farre, A. (Recipient), Cumming, S. (Recipient), Gavine, A. (Recipient) & McFadden, A. (Recipient)
Nov 2023 → Jul 2024Activity: Other activity types › Funding - grants and income which support research related activities