Médecine communautaire et éducation à la santé

Abstrait

Study of the Impact of an Outreach Support on the Exclusive Breastfeeding at the Age of 6 Months

Radouani MA, Gouchi H, Mrabet M, Elhassani A, Bentahila N, Aguenaou H and Barkat A

Summary: The aim of the study is to show that the use of support counseling in breastfeeding can increase its duration.
Materials and methods: Comparative prospective study from November 2012 to April 2013 on 400 women who delivered at the maternity Souissi Rabat. The pool is divided into two groups one of which received support counseling for exclusive breastfeeding. The women were followed for a period of 6 months. The primary outcome studied was breastfeeding rates.
Results: The average duration of exclusive breastfeeding was 4 months and half versus 3 months in the control group. At a postnatal week, the rate was 76% against 11.5% in the second group with a significant difference, p=0.00, the additional milk was given in 16% against 31% in the control group. A six month breastfeeding rate was 79% versus 58% in the control group (P=0.00), with an exclusive breastfeeding rate of 58% in the study group and 19% in the control group (p=0.000). 36% of women gave formula milk versus 63% in the control group.
Conclusion: Counseling support can have an impact on the duration of breastfeeding by increasing the duration and especially the duration of exclusive breastfeeding. Indeed this support has improved some practices of mothers in breastfeeding as early addition of other liquids.