Literature review for - Flourish Paediatrics

Conclusion
Additional professional support was
effective in prolonging any
breastfeeding, but its effects on
exclusive breastfeeding were less clear.
WHO/UNICEF training courses
appeared to be effective for professional
training. Additional lay support was
effective in prolonging exclusive
breastfeeding, while its effects on
duration of any breastfeeding were
uncertain. Effective support offered by
professionals and lay people together
was specific to breastfeeding and was
offered to women who had decided to
breastfeed. Further trials are required to
assess the effectiveness (including costeffectiveness)
of both lay and
professional support in different
settings, particularly those with low
rates of breastfeeding initiation, and for
women who wish to breastfeed for
longer than three months. Trials should
consider timing and delivery of support
interventions and relative effectiveness
of intervention components, and should
report women’s views. Research into
appropriate training for supporters
(whether lay or professional) of
breastfeeding mothers is also needed.
No trials have evaluated the
effectiveness of workplace interventions
in promoting breastfeeding among
women returning to paid work after the
birth of their child. The impact of such
intervention on process outcomes is also
unknown. Randomised controlled trials
are required to establish the benefits of
various types of workplace
interventions to support, encourage and
promote breastfeeding among working
mothers.
Consistent evidence was found of
intervention features associated with
effective changes in a number of health
behaviours. Interventions to change
health behaviours of women of childbearing
age from disadvantaged
backgrounds require: an educational
approach delivered in person by
professionals or peers; provide
continued support after the initial
intervention; some evidence to t that
social support from peers and family
involvement in the intervention maybe
important. These findings are of
relevance to the design of an
intervention to improve diet in this
group of women.
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