Feasibility Study of a Peer-Support Program to Help Mothers in Severe Socioeconomic Deprivation Breastfeed at the Hpital Femme Mre Enfant in Bron, France

What this Trial Is About

This research aims to evaluate a peer-support breastfeeding program designed for mothers facing severe socioeconomic challenges, such as housing instability or migration-related difficulties, who may experience barriers like social isolation and limited access to health information. The study will assess the feasibility and acceptance of the program, known as the Relais Allaitement Program PRALL, adapted specifically for vulnerable populations receiving care at a maternity unit in France. The intervention involves trained experienced mothers providing breastfeeding support to eligible mothers during the postpartum period. The support includes at least two in-person contacts over a two-month period, with weekly interactions in the first month and biweekly in the second. The program also features recruitment and training of nursery nurses as network coordinators and peer supporters to deliver personalized assistance, which may include face-to-face, telephone, or video contacts depending on the mothers preferences and needs. Participants will engage in the support intervention, with researchers tracking the number of completed interventions defined by sustained contact and duration of support. Qualitative interviews with mothers and peer supporters will explore challenges and facilitators of breastfeeding support. The study aims to inform future adaptations and broader implementation of peer-support breastfeeding programs for socially disadvantaged mothers, ultimately guiding larger studies on breastfeeding outcomes in similar populations.

Peer-Support Breastfeeding Program for Mothers in Severe Socioeconomic Deprivation: Feasibility Study