In this clinical trial, 150 nursing mothers will be trained by peers (in terms of age, education, and financial and social status) who have been previously trained. In this study, initiation and continuation of breastfeeding of mothers will be examined throughout infancy.
Intervention method:
Twenty-five volunteer health assistants and trainers in Mother and Infant Centers from district 19 of Tehran, Iran (who agreed to participate in training groups) will be trained in a two-day workshop by experienced instructors and specialists in breastfeeding.
Textual and electronic training media will also be provided to them. Next, these trained health assistants will form training committees consisting of volunteer peer mothers. With the cooperation of instructors from the Center for Breastfeeding Research, these health assistants will begin training the volunteer mothers such that after a one-month course, the members will be able to undertake training and advising of their peers in the district. In all stages of training, if need be, health assistants can visit or contact by telephone during predetermined times the instructors and counselors of the Center for Breastfeeding Research and refer cases needing special treatment or intervention. During the work of this group of trained health assistants, the state of affairs of the district in terms of initiation of breastfeeding, continuation of breastfeeding, and effective factors in early discontinuation of breastfeeding will be examined in 150 eligible (according with the study criteria) mothers. After formation of the training groups, they will begin their intervention in the form of training and advice under the supervision of the health assistants and members of the research center. Six months into this intervention, the state of the district will be reevaluated by examination of the 150 eligible mothers who were training during their breastfeeding term.
Mothers and trained persons shall participate in this study voluntarily and live in district 19 of Tehran. Demographic data, midwifery experience, history of received training, and infant data will be gathered using questionnaires. Data on the level of awareness and performance of the mothers concerning continuation of breastfeeding will be gathered according to the guidelines and procedure of the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC).
Study population:
Two groups of mothers that have infants from 4 to 20 months of age and live in district 19 of Tehran, Iran. The first group of 150 mothers will be examined under the previously mentioned conditions prior to intervention. After a period of six months from the initiation of intervention, the second group of 150 eligible mothers will be investigated.