STUDY PROTOCOL FOR A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL TO EVALUATE THE EFFICACY OF ‘BREASTFEEDING –SUPPORTIVE CARE’ (B -SUCA) ON INITIATION, DETERMINANTS OF BREASTFEEDING AND PERINATAL OUTCOMES IN MOTHER-NEWBORN DYADS

Abstract

Background: Breast milk is the best ever gift a mother can give to her newborn baby. During the olden times, early and exclusive breastfeeding was the custom and so was closeness between the mother and her baby. Methods: This randomized controlled trial (RCT) aims to test the primary outcomes on efficacy of ‘Breastfeeding – Supportive Care’ (B - SUCA) on time to initiate breastfeeding, determinants of breastfeeding, maternal- neonatal bonding. The secondary outcomes are to assess the B - SUCA on perinatal birth outcomes (maternal & neonatal) and check the acceptability of B - SUCA among the mothers in the experimental group. A block randomization technique is adopted among 160 participants 80 each in experimental and control group. Data collection is done after the approval from the ethics committee and patient’s informed consent.
Results: At the time of writing, data collection was still being in process. After data collection it will be analyzed and results will be published as separate manuscripts.
Conclusions: This study will offer insights into the prospect of improving breastfeeding rate for early initiation through breast crawl and skin-to-skin contact (SSC). It will determine the technique as a natural, simple, easy, feasible and effective way to improve the breastfeeding rate thus, enhance the newborn health status.