Feasibility, acceptability and lessons learned from an infant feeding intervention trial among women living with HIV in western Kenya
Abstract Background The World Health Organization recommends mothers breastfeed exclusively for the first six months of their infant’s life. However, women living with HIV in low resource settings face many barriers to recommended infant feeding practices such as fear of HIV transmission and perceiv...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2023-10-01
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| Series: | BMC Public Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-16794-2 |
| _version_ | 1797555968894042112 |
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| author | Ann E. Maltby Belinda C. Odhiambo Maureen Nyaura Rosemary Shikari Emily L. Tuthill |
| author_facet | Ann E. Maltby Belinda C. Odhiambo Maureen Nyaura Rosemary Shikari Emily L. Tuthill |
| author_sort | Ann E. Maltby |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The World Health Organization recommends mothers breastfeed exclusively for the first six months of their infant’s life. However, women living with HIV in low resource settings face many barriers to recommended infant feeding practices such as fear of HIV transmission and perceived milk insufficiency. Moreover, current support for breastfeeding in this context is often insufficient to overcome these barriers. To support women’s infant feeding experience, we tested a personalized infant feeding support program among perinatal women living with HIV in Kenya. Methods Supporting Healthy Mothers is a theory and evidence-based multilevel intervention designed to address the mental health burden associated with financial and food insecurity and provide personalized support for optimal infant feeding postpartum. As part of the Supporting Healthy Mothers intervention feasibility trial, between February 23, 2022 and November 9, 2022, twenty mothers received five personalized infant feeding support sessions delivered by a local professional lactation specialist from pregnancy until three months postpartum. Through detailed observations of these sessions, clinical notes and repeated team discussions, we aimed to describe and provide a limited evaluation of these sessions. We identified the strengths and limitations of the lactation support sessions as well as areas for future development. Results Participation in the sessions was high and at three months postpartum all participants reported exclusive breastfeeding as recommended despite experiencing a myriad of challenges. Having face-to-face and frequent early postpartum sessions, being available to field participant concerns between sessions and measuring infant weights at each session were key strengths. Continuing sessions beyond three months postpartum and incorporating family planning and general maternal health counseling topics would enhance these supportive sessions. Conclusions The personalized professional infant feeding support sessions were highly acceptable and feasible to implement. In-person sessions, in a clinic setting provided opportunities to evaluate and adjust breastfeeding technique and led to successful exclusive breastfeeding practice. Future interventions should consider integrating with other perinatal care services and offering support on demand and immediately postpartum. Trial registration Supporting Healthy Mothers was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov Protocol Registration and Results System, posted on February 2, 2022. Identifiers: NCT05219552 Unique Protocol ID: K23MH116807. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T16:55:11Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a386eca8739e4be4b785529760928555 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T16:55:11Z |
| publishDate | 2023-10-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-a386eca8739e4be4b7855297609285552023-11-20T11:10:45ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582023-10-0123111210.1186/s12889-023-16794-2Feasibility, acceptability and lessons learned from an infant feeding intervention trial among women living with HIV in western KenyaAnn E. Maltby0Belinda C. Odhiambo1Maureen Nyaura2Rosemary Shikari3Emily L. Tuthill4Department of Community Health Systems, School of Nursing, University of CaliforniaDepartment of Community Health Systems, School of Nursing, University of CaliforniaDepartment of Community Health Systems, School of Nursing, University of CaliforniaAmbercare Medical CentreDepartment of Community Health Systems, School of Nursing, University of CaliforniaAbstract Background The World Health Organization recommends mothers breastfeed exclusively for the first six months of their infant’s life. However, women living with HIV in low resource settings face many barriers to recommended infant feeding practices such as fear of HIV transmission and perceived milk insufficiency. Moreover, current support for breastfeeding in this context is often insufficient to overcome these barriers. To support women’s infant feeding experience, we tested a personalized infant feeding support program among perinatal women living with HIV in Kenya. Methods Supporting Healthy Mothers is a theory and evidence-based multilevel intervention designed to address the mental health burden associated with financial and food insecurity and provide personalized support for optimal infant feeding postpartum. As part of the Supporting Healthy Mothers intervention feasibility trial, between February 23, 2022 and November 9, 2022, twenty mothers received five personalized infant feeding support sessions delivered by a local professional lactation specialist from pregnancy until three months postpartum. Through detailed observations of these sessions, clinical notes and repeated team discussions, we aimed to describe and provide a limited evaluation of these sessions. We identified the strengths and limitations of the lactation support sessions as well as areas for future development. Results Participation in the sessions was high and at three months postpartum all participants reported exclusive breastfeeding as recommended despite experiencing a myriad of challenges. Having face-to-face and frequent early postpartum sessions, being available to field participant concerns between sessions and measuring infant weights at each session were key strengths. Continuing sessions beyond three months postpartum and incorporating family planning and general maternal health counseling topics would enhance these supportive sessions. Conclusions The personalized professional infant feeding support sessions were highly acceptable and feasible to implement. In-person sessions, in a clinic setting provided opportunities to evaluate and adjust breastfeeding technique and led to successful exclusive breastfeeding practice. Future interventions should consider integrating with other perinatal care services and offering support on demand and immediately postpartum. Trial registration Supporting Healthy Mothers was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov Protocol Registration and Results System, posted on February 2, 2022. Identifiers: NCT05219552 Unique Protocol ID: K23MH116807.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-16794-2PMTCTWLWHBreastfeedingExclusive breastfeedingPregnancyLactation support |
| spellingShingle | Ann E. Maltby Belinda C. Odhiambo Maureen Nyaura Rosemary Shikari Emily L. Tuthill Feasibility, acceptability and lessons learned from an infant feeding intervention trial among women living with HIV in western Kenya BMC Public Health PMTCT WLWH Breastfeeding Exclusive breastfeeding Pregnancy Lactation support |
| title | Feasibility, acceptability and lessons learned from an infant feeding intervention trial among women living with HIV in western Kenya |
| title_full | Feasibility, acceptability and lessons learned from an infant feeding intervention trial among women living with HIV in western Kenya |
| title_fullStr | Feasibility, acceptability and lessons learned from an infant feeding intervention trial among women living with HIV in western Kenya |
| title_full_unstemmed | Feasibility, acceptability and lessons learned from an infant feeding intervention trial among women living with HIV in western Kenya |
| title_short | Feasibility, acceptability and lessons learned from an infant feeding intervention trial among women living with HIV in western Kenya |
| title_sort | feasibility acceptability and lessons learned from an infant feeding intervention trial among women living with hiv in western kenya |
| topic | PMTCT WLWH Breastfeeding Exclusive breastfeeding Pregnancy Lactation support |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-16794-2 |
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