Multi-modal Intervention for Lactation Care (MILC)
Benten Technologies, Inc.
Summary
The innovative platform MILC is designed to provide an integrated and comprehensive professional and social support network with personalized breastfeeding (BF) education to target exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) and any BF behaviors in low-income Hispanic women. Formative research conducted for the development of MILC and results from pilot testing will help guide the completion of the development and testing of this prototype that specifically caters to Hispanic women. In the long term, MILC has the potential to increase the rates of EBF and any BF up to 12 months.
Description
Breastfeeding (BF) is positively associated with health benefits for infants. It reduces an infant's risks for various conditions such as respiratory tract infections, non-specific gastroenteritis, diarrhea, asthma, and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Despite high breastfeeding (BF) initiation of approximately 80% among the Hispanic population in the United States (US), less than 25% of infants were exclusively breastfed (EBF) through 6 months, further perpetuating ethnic disparities in chronic diseases such as diabetes, obesity, and hypertension. Hispanic women are more likely to supple…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18–44 years
- Sex
- Female
- Healthy volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria for focus groups: * Mothers who successfully exclusively breastfed for up to 6 months, at least one child OR mothers who attempted EBF but were unsuccessful at breastfeeding, in the past 3 years * Self-identify as Hispanic * Be WIC-eligible * Voluntarily consent * Speak English Inclusion Criteria for Randomized Control Trial (RCT): * In their late third trimester (approximately 4 weeks from delivery) * Can initiate BF immediately * Self-identify as Hispanic * Be WIC-eligible * Voluntarily consent * Not have psychiatric hospitalization within the last 3 months * Not have c…
Interventions
- BehavioralMILC application
Eligible Hispanic participants in their third trimester will be recruited for the study. Intervention group will receive standard WIC services plus the MILC application. Standard WIC support includes on-site lactation consultation, bilingual peer counseling, weekly peer support meetings, free breast pump, and enhanced food package for BF mothers. If a participant has trouble with breastfeeding, she will be referred to a home-visiting breastfeeding peer counselor in the area. Participants will be asked to participate in the periodic follow-up assessments at 1, 3 and 6 months along with demonstrating breastfeeding via MILC app. Participants will send in 1 BF video per month using the MILC app to verify continued BF and fill out monthly self-report to verify EBF. Participants in the incentive group will receive escalating monthly points as incentives for every additional month of continued BF and EBF.
- BehavioralUsual care
Participants in the control group will receive care as usual with standard breastfeeding services from the WIC program and will be asked to participate in the periodic follow-up assessments at 1, 3 and 6 months. Participants in the control group can receive financial compensation for the completion of assessments. This is necessary to maximize retention and adherence to the monthly assessment schedule, provide comparable remuneration as the incentive group, and minimize demoralization of control group participants following treatment assignment. All participants are informed of the differential group procedures during the randomization consent process. In addition to the follow-up assessment, control group will also complete a monthly self-report on BF status (both for EBF and "any BF"). For attention control purposes in this group, participants will be referred to a mobile app for tracking the baby's milestones called Baby Connect.
Locations (3)
- UCONN HealthFarmington, Connecticut
- RTI InternationalResearch Triangle Park, North Carolina
- Temple UniversityPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania