Introduction:

Accomplishing exclusive breastfeeding goals has been a challenge.

Objective:

To assess the effectiveness of a strategy to promote and achieve exclusive breastfeeding during the first months of life.

Materials and methods:

A quasi-experimental randomized non-masked study was carried out during the 2014-2017 period. Adult first-time pregnant women at gestational age between 12-27 weeks from Cali, Colombia were included. While the control group received standard care only, the intervention group was also subjected to a prenatal and postnatal strategy that included information and communication technologies. Follow-up was carried out until 6 months postpartum.

Results:

The 141 participants were distributed in two groups: control (73) and intervention (68). The mean adherence to exclusive breastfeeding was greater in the intervention group (1.1 ± 0.65, p<0.001), reaching an average of 4.8 months (IC95%=[4.4; 5.3]). The control group was 11.68 times more likely to end exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months postpartum as compared to the intervention group.

Conclusion:

The incorporation of prenatal and postnatal counseling through information and communication technologies promoted a sustained exclusive breastfeeding.

        · abstract in Spanish | Portuguese     · text in Spanish     · Spanish ( pdf )