Document Type : Review Article
Authors
1
a) PhD Student of Reproductive Health, Department of Midwifery and Reproductive Health, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran b) Lecturer, 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
Midwife, 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 is recognized as one of the public health priorities. Electronic health (e-health) interventions have become a widespread and accessible strategy to support breastfeeding. Accordingly, this study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of e-health interventions on breastfeeding outcomes.
Methods: A scoping review of English and Persian articles was conducted via PRISMA for scoping reviews (PRISMA-ScR) checklist by searching English electronic databases including Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane, and Persian databases of SID and Magiran as well as Google Scholar search engine from January 2000 up to February 2025 using electronic technology, mobile technology, cell phones, mobile health, short messaging service, web-based interventions and breastfeeding as keywords. The data were narratively summarized based on the type of e-health interventions.
Results: Out of 423 retrieved articles, 29 studies were eligible, which were grouped into four categories: mobile phone applications (n =12), telephone counseling (n=9), text message (n =4), and web-based education (n=4). Regarding e-health effectiveness on breastfeeding outcomes, findings were inconsistent; as 20 studies reported positive influence of e-health on breastfeeding outcomes including early initiation of breastfeeding, breastfeeding rates, breastfeeding duration, exclusive breastfeeding, maintenance of breastfeeding, breastfeeding self-efficacy, mother’s knowledge, attitude and practice towards breastfeeding as well as feasibility of information and communication technologies; whereas nine other studies did not reported any effect on these outcomes.
Conclusion: Given the inconsistent findings about effectiveness of e-health on breastfeeding outcomes, additional research utilizing more robust methodological frameworks are essential to investigate the value of these technologies.
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