31 - Factors influencing skin-to-skin contact regimens and long-term breastfeeding duration: Secondary outcome analysis from a quasi-experimental study

Poster Number: 31
Publication Number: 31.202

Ting-Hui Shih, National Taiwan University Hospital Hsinchu Branch, Taipei, Taipei, Taiwan (Republic of China); Chi-Nien Chen, National Taiwan University Hospital Hsinchu Branch, Hsinchu county, Hsinchu, Taiwan (Republic of China)

Background: Mother and infant skin-to-skin contact (SSC) is a key clinical practice for the improvement of maternal and neonatal health outcomes. Observational studies have suggested that early SSC could increase the likelihood of exclusive breastfeeding (eBF). However, the evidence for whether a longer SSC duration increases the eBF duration is scant, and identification of the potential social or clinical factors influencing the eBF duration is needed.

Objective: The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of different SSC regimens on the long-term eBF rate by analyzing follow-up data from a previously reported quasi-experimental study.

Design/Methods: The original quasi-experimental study was conducted in two phases with 2 weeks suspended between these two phases: (1) the first phase with the study participations (mother-infant dyads) delivered and born from 1 January to 28 March 2019, as the control group, and (2) the second phase with the study participations delivered and born from 11 April to 30 July 2019, as the intervention group (ClinicalTrials: NCT04142099). This was a follow-up study in which data were collected from the abovementioned quasi-experimental study to evaluate the effect of SSC for 60 minutes (intervention group) or 20 minutes (control group) on long-term eBF duration at 2, 4, 6 and 12 months postpartum. The primary outcome was eBF duration, assessed by telephone interview during the follow-up period. Interactions between other factors and SSC regimens on the eBF duration were evaluated by subgroup analysis.

Results: In total, 103 mother–infant pairs were enrolled. The eBF durations of the intervention and control groups at 2, 4, 6, or 12 months postpartum did not differ. In the subgroup analysis, mothers with an educational status of college or above had a higher likelihood of eBF continuation for a longer duration. In the multivariate logistic regression model, education was associated with an eBF duration of 6 months after birth (aOR=3.19, 95% CI 1.04-9.82).

Conclusion(s): A longer duration of SSC for 60 minutes immediately after birth does not contribute to a longer eBF duration. In addition to early and uninterrupted SSC, a lower maternal educational status might be a risk factor that needs more attention to prevent early breastfeeding cessation in Taiwan.
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