Effect of mHealth educational intervention on intention of exclusive breastfeeding among mothers in Diete-Koki Memorial Hospital, Opolo, Bayelsa State, Nigeria

A One-Group Pretest/Post-Test Quasi-Experimental Study

Abstract

Objective: This study assessed the effectiveness of M-Health Educational intervention on Exclusive Breastfeeding intention among mothers in Diete-Koki Memorial Hospital (DKMH), Opolo Bayelsa State Nigeria with one hypothesis stating that there is no significant difference in the mean score of the pre and post-intervention scores of Exclusive Breastfeeding intention among mothers in DKMH, Opolo Bayelsa State.

Method: A one-group pretest/ posttest quasi-experimental design was employed. 148 participants were purposively selected among pregnant women with a gestational age of thirty-six weeks and above attending ANC at DKMH, Opolo. Data was collected using structured and validated instruments with Cronbach's alpha coefficient of 0.90 and 0.82. WhatsApp was used as the medium for online support. Four chats were dropped every week in the group within the study period to educate the participants. The chats addressed the value of exclusive breastfeeding, early initiation, benefits of EBF to the mother and baby, techniques of successful breastfeeding and latching. Data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Student t-test was used at a 5% level of significance.

Results: The difference between the pre-test and post-test (t=16.4; p < 0.001; df = 147) scores indicated that the M-Health educational intervention increased the Exclusive Breastfeeding intention of mothers.

Conclusion: Utilizing WhatsApp as a medium for breastfeeding education improved maternal breastfeeding intention. This study recommends M-Health educational intervention in addition to regular antenatal education to improve breastfeeding intention among mothers.