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  • Essay / The effectiveness of telephone breastfeeding counseling: review of the literature

    Research by Tahir et al did not show conclusive evidence that telephone breastfeeding counseling was effective in improving breastfeeding lactation rate at the fourth and sixth months postpartum. 1 However, since the article was published, numerous studies and meta-analyses have been published regarding lactation counseling and methods to improve exclusive breastfeeding rates. Recently, literature reviews have been conducted to determine the effectiveness of improved health care and health education in relation to breastfeeding and as an independent health tool. In a world where communication technologies are within the reach of almost everyone, including 90% of the population in developing countries, health care delivered by telephone or instant messaging seems practical. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why violent video games should not be banned”?Get the original essayA systematic review by Sondaal et al evaluated the effectiveness of mobile health (mHealth) in the delivery of maternal and neonatal care in low- and middle-income countries. . 2 The widespread use of mobile phones and tablets in developing countries provides a possible method of providing health education to patients who are unable to regularly attend clinics due to disability or distance . Sondaal et al. asserted that mHealth techniques to improve home care can be beneficial for patients and healthcare professionals, but that further studies are recommended. Another study conducted by Efrat et al. sought to examine the effectiveness of telephone interventions delivered by lactation educators for low-income Hispanic patients in the United States. In this randomized controlled trial, mothers were assigned to either a control or intervention group and data were collected three days, one month, three months and six months after delivery. According to this study, mothers who received telehealth training from lactation professionals improved the quantity and duration of breastfeeding and were less likely to stop breastfeeding during the first six months after delivery . This study shows promise in delivering telehealth as a substitute for clinic or hospital visits for mothers to improve breastfeeding rates. Another promising study on telephone interventions was conducted by Carlsen et al. This article analyzed the effectiveness of telephone counseling among obese mothers and concluded that telephone counseling actually increases the incidence and duration of exclusive breastfeeding rates. Promoting breastfeeding is one of the most important health interventions that healthcare professionals can offer to new mothers. Along with mobile health and telehealth support, in-hospital and face-to-face breastfeeding counseling has been shown to be beneficial for new mothers. For example, a systematic review by Haroon et al. reviewed over a hundred articles. The results of the analysis showed that educational methods, such as counseling during home visits and peer support groups, increased the incidence of exclusive breastfeeding and decreased rates of non-breastfeeding. A meta-analysis conducted by Sinha et al showed similar results. In this article, Sinha et al. reviewed a multitude of articles on breastfeeding counseling provided in various contexts, such as.