Digital mentoring on expressing breast milk for working mothers

Abstract

Background/Aims Working mothers may find it difficult to maintain exclusive breastfeeding; this challenge can be addressed through expressing breast milk. However, barriers to expressing breast milk include perceived insufficient milk supply and a lack of knowledge on pumping, storing and giving breast milk to babies. This study's aim was to identify the effectiveness of expressed breast milk assistance, through the ASIPku mobile application, among working mothers in North Sulawesi, Indonesia. Methods This quasi-experimental study involved 100 participants (intervention: n=50, control: n=50), selected using cluster randomised trials. Questionnaires were used to assess exclusive breastfeeding and use of the app in the intervention group. Chi-squared tests were used for data analysis. Results Assistance using mobile applications had a significant effect on exclusive breastfeeding among working mothers in North Sulawesi (P<0.001). Conclusions Digital mentoring was effective in improving the rate of exclusive breastfeeding. By providing information on expressing breast milk, these apps can be used to support women and make exclusive breastfeeding more accessible to working mothers.