Document Type : Review Article
Authors
1
a) PhD Student in Reproductive Health, Department of Midwifery and Reproductive Health, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran b) Department of Population, Youth, and Family Health, Vice-President for Health, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
2
Lecturer, Department of Midwifery, School of Medicine, Gonabad University of Medical Sciences, Gonabad, Iran
3
Department of Midwifery, school of Nursing and Midwifery, Shahroud University of Medical Sciences, Shahroud, Iran
4
Lecturer, Social determinants of health research center, research institute for prevention of non-communicable diseases, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran
5
Assistant Professor, Department of Midwifery, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shahroud University of Medical Sciences, Shahroud, Iran
10.22038/jmrh.2025.86591.2624
Abstract
Background & aim: Protecting, promoting, and supporting breastfeeding are recognized as public health priorities. Electronic health (e-health) interventions have become a widespread and accessible strategy to support breastfeeding. Accordingly, this study aimed to review the effectiveness of e-health interventions on breastfeeding outcomes.
Method: This scoping review was conducted basedon Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (the PRISMA-ScR). English and Persian documents were searched through electronic databases including Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane, SID and Magiran) from 2000 up to February 2025 using keywords of electronic, mobile technology, cell phones, mobile health, short messaging service, web-based and breastfeeding. The data were narratively summarized based on the type of e-health interventions and their impacts on breastfeeding outcomes.
Results: 29 eligible articles including a total of 2741 participants included in the review. In general, e-health -based interventions were grouped into four thematic categories: mobile phone application, telephone counseling, text messaging, and web-based education. Regarding the e-health effectiveness on breastfeeding outcomes, the findings were inconsistent; most of the studies (n=20, 68.9%) reported positive influences of e-health on breastfeeding outcomes including early initiation of breastfeeding, breastfeeding rates, breastfeeding duration, exclusive breastfeeding (EBF), maintenance of breastfeeding, breastfeeding self-efficacy, mother’s knowledge, attitude, practice (KAP) and feasibility of information and communication technologies (ICT); however nine other studies did not identify any effect on these outcomes.
Conclusion: Given the inconsistent results regarding the effectiveness of e-health interventions on breastfeeding outcomes, further studies using more rigorous methodological approaches are needed to clarify the value of these technologies.
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