Smartphone-Based Breastfeeding Counselling Study

Breastfeeding provides significant health benefits for both mothers and infants; however, low breastfeeding self-efficacy and insufficient professional support remain major barriers to sustained breastfeeding. Mobile health (mHealth) interventions offer accessible and continuous counselling opportunities, particularly during the early postpartum period when breastfeeding problems are most common. This study was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of a smartphone application-based breastfeeding counselling program in improving breastfeeding outcomes among primiparous women.

This randomized controlled trial was conducted at a Training and Research Hospital in Turkey between January 15, 2022, and March 1, 2022. A total of 100 primiparous women were initially randomized, and 60 participants completed the study. Women in the intervention group received access to a smartphone application that included evidence-based breastfeeding education videos, motivational messages, and an interactive "Ask Me" platform for continuous counselling. Motivational messages were sent daily during the first month and weekly from the second to the sixth month. The control group received routine postpartum care.

This study was registered retrospectively. Participant enrollment and data collection were completed before trial registration due to lack of awareness of the prospective registration requirement at the time of study initiation. The study was conducted with ethics committee approval and in accordance with institutional and ethical standards. The trial was registered to ensure transparency and public accessibility of the study protocol and results.

Breastfeeding self-efficacy, breastfeeding-related problems, and breastfeeding duration were assessed at multiple follow-up points up to six months postpartum using validated scales. The study aimed to determine whether continuous digital counselling improves maternal confidence, reduces breastfeeding problems, and increases breastfeeding continuation rates compared with standard care.

Inclusion criteria

• Women who agree to participate in the study,
• Aged 18 years or older,
• In the early postpartum period (first 24 hours),
• Able to speak and understand Turkish,
• Possessing a smartphone (ANDROID) and able to use it,
• Who gave birth between 36 and 40 weeks of gestation,

Exclusion criteria

• Women who have had a breast infection during pregnancy,
• Women whose baby has an anomaly in the mouth region,
• Women who have communication difficulties,
• Women with a history of breast cancer,
• Women who have given birth multiple times,
• Women with multiple pregnancies,
• Women with a premature baby,
• Women whose baby has neonatal jaundice have been excluded from the study.