Facebook Support for Breastfeeding Mothers: A Comparison to Offline Support and Associations with Breastfeeding Outcomes

Overview

Journal Digit Health

Specialty Medical Informatics

Date 2019 Jun 21

PMID 31218076

Citations 20

Authors

Ayanna Robinson

Carolyn Lauckner

Marsha Davis

Jori Hall

Alex Kojo Anderson

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Objectives: For breastfeeding mothers, online support groups through Facebook may be a more convenient and preferred source for accessing breastfeeding information and support, but few studies exist that examine the use of Facebook groups specifically for breastfeeding support. This study explores the sources of support among users of Facebook breastfeeding support groups and a possible mechanism by which support received on Facebook may translate to behavioral outcomes among breastfeeding mothers.

Methods: From July-September 2017 a survey was distributed online to African American mothers ( = 277) who participate in breastfeeding support groups on Facebook. The survey assessed network support from Facebook and other sources of breastfeeding support, perceived breastfeeding norms, breastfeeding self-efficacy and breastfeeding attitudes. Correlations and linear regression analysis were used to examine the relationship between covariates and outcome variables.

Results: The average intended breastfeeding duration among participants in this study was 19 months. Participants reported the highest amount of breastfeeding support received from their Facebook support group, in comparison to other sources of support, and Facebook support was significantly correlated with intended breastfeeding duration ( < 0.05). Self-efficacy and breastfeeding attitudes remained significant predictors of intended breastfeeding duration within the final regression model.

Conclusions: Breastfeeding support received within Facebook groups may compensate for inadequate support received within mothers' networks. More research is needed to understand the mechanism through which Facebook support may contribute to prolonged breastfeeding durations.

Citing Articles

Close Relations, Practitioners or Social Networks: What Affects the Selection of Infant Formula Products?.

Harison E, Lahav Y Nutrients. 2024; 16(18).

PMID: 39339689 PMC: 11434750. DOI: 10.3390/nu16183089.

Response to "Effectiveness of Husbands' Support Exclusive Breastfeeding Facebook Programme During the COVID-19 Pandemic" [Letter].

Sofia N J Multidiscip Healthc. 2024; 17:3739-3740.

PMID: 39100900 PMC: 11297536. DOI: 10.2147/JMDH.S486963.

Effectiveness of Husbands' Support Exclusive Breastfeeding Facebook Programme During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Thepha T, Theeranut A, Muangpin S, Jantawong P, Nguyen G J Multidiscip Healthc. 2024; 17:3227-3234.

PMID: 39006880 PMC: 11246086. DOI: 10.2147/JMDH.S465483.

Comparing factors associated with overall satisfaction for different forms of remote breastfeeding support in the UK.

Thomson G, Balaam M, Tishkovskaya S Int Breastfeed J. 2024; 19(1):36.

PMID: 38778298 PMC: 11112964. DOI: 10.1186/s13006-024-00641-0.

Effectiveness of a Postpartum Breastfeeding Support Group Intervention in Promoting Exclusive Breastfeeding and Perceived Self-Efficacy: A Multicentre Randomized Clinical Trial.

Rodriguez-Gallego I, Corrales-Gutierrez I, Gomez-Baya D, Leon-Larios F Nutrients. 2024; 16(7).

PMID: 38613021 PMC: 11013075. DOI: 10.3390/nu16070988.

References

Dennis C . The breastfeeding self-efficacy scale: psychometric assessment of the short form. J Obstet Gynecol Neonatal Nurs. 2003; 32(6):734-44. DOI: 10.1177/0884217503258459. View

Kornides M, Kitsantas P . Evaluation of breastfeeding promotion, support, and knowledge of benefits on breastfeeding outcomes. J Child Health Care. 2013; 17(3):264-73. PMC: 4086458. DOI: 10.1177/1367493512461460. View

Ismail T, Muda W, Bakar M . The extended Theory of Planned Behavior in explaining exclusive breastfeeding intention and behavior among women in Kelantan, Malaysia. Nutr Res Pract. 2016; 10(1):49-55. PMC: 4742311. DOI: 10.4162/nrp.2016.10.1.49. View

de Jager E, Broadbent J, Fuller-Tyszkiewicz M, Skouteris H . The role of psychosocial factors in exclusive breastfeeding to six months postpartum. Midwifery. 2013; 30(6):657-66. DOI: 10.1016/j.midw.2013.07.008. View

Giglia R, Cox K, Zhao Y, Binns C . Exclusive breastfeeding increased by an internet intervention. Breastfeed Med. 2014; 10(1):20-5. DOI: 10.1089/bfm.2014.0093. View

Niela-Vilen H, Axelin A, Melender H, Salantera S . Aiming to be a breastfeeding mother in a neonatal intensive care unit and at home: a thematic analysis of peer-support group discussion in social media. Matern Child Nutr. 2014; 11(4):712-26. PMC: 6860251. DOI: 10.1111/mcn.12108. View

Johnson A, Kirk R, Rosenblum K, Muzik M . Enhancing breastfeeding rates among African American women: a systematic review of current psychosocial interventions. Breastfeed Med. 2014; 10(1):45-62. PMC: 4307211. DOI: 10.1089/bfm.2014.0023. View

Tuan N, Nguyen P, Hajeebhoy N, Frongillo E . Gaps between breastfeeding awareness and practices in Vietnamese mothers result from inadequate support in health facilities and social norms. J Nutr. 2014; 144(11):1811-7. DOI: 10.3945/jn.114.198226. View

McLnnes R, LOVE J, Stone D . Independent predictors of breastfeeding intention in a disadvantaged population of pregnant women. BMC Public Health. 2001; 1:10. PMC: 59841. DOI: 10.1186/1471-2458-1-10. View

10.

Bridges N . The faces of breastfeeding support: Experiences of mothers seeking breastfeeding support online. Breastfeed Rev. 2016; 24(1):11-20. View

11.

Reeves E, Woods-Giscombe C . Infant-feeding practices among African American women: social-ecological analysis and implications for practice. J Transcult Nurs. 2014; 26(3):219-26. DOI: 10.1177/1043659614526244. View

12.

Cross-Barnet C, Augustyn M, Gross S, Resnik A, Paige D . Long-term breastfeeding support: failing mothers in need. Matern Child Health J. 2012; 16(9):1926-32. DOI: 10.1007/s10995-011-0939-x. View

13.

Swanson V, Power K . Initiation and continuation of breastfeeding: theory of planned behaviour. J Adv Nurs. 2005; 50(3):272-82. DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2648.2005.03390.x. View

14.

. Breastfeeding and the use of human milk. Pediatrics. 2012; 129(3):e827-41. DOI: 10.1542/peds.2011-3552. View

15.

Britton C, McCormick F, Renfrew M, Wade A, King S . Support for breastfeeding mothers. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2007; (1):CD001141. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD001141.pub3. View

16.

Anstey E, Chen J, Elam-Evans L, Perrine C . Racial and Geographic Differences in Breastfeeding - United States, 2011-2015. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2017; 66(27):723-727. PMC: 5687589. DOI: 10.15585/mmwr.mm6627a3. View

17.

Asiodu I, Waters C, Dailey D, Lee K, Lyndon A . Breastfeeding and use of social media among first-time African American mothers. J Obstet Gynecol Neonatal Nurs. 2015; 44(2):268-78. PMC: 4359664. DOI: 10.1111/1552-6909.12552. View

18.

Spencer B, Wambach K, Domain E . African American Women's Breastfeeding Experiences: Cultural, Personal, and Political Voices. Qual Health Res. 2014; 25(7):974-87. DOI: 10.1177/1049732314554097. View

19.

Wolynn T . Using social media to promote and support breastfeeding. Breastfeed Med. 2012; 7(5):364-5. DOI: 10.1089/bfm.2012.0085. View

20.

Holtz B, Smock A, Reyes-Gastelum D . Connected Motherhood: Social Support for Moms and Moms-to-Be on Facebook. Telemed J E Health. 2015; 21(5):415-21. DOI: 10.1089/tmj.2014.0118. View