Group cell phones are feasible and acceptable for promoting optimal breastfeeding practices in a women's microcredit program in Nigeria

Flax, Valerie L.; Ibrahim, Alawiyatu Usman; Negerie, Mekebeb; Yakubu, Danjuma; Leatherman, Sheila; Bentley, Margaret E.

doi:10.1111/mcn.12261

Cited by 27Breastfeeding Practices and InfluencesMobile Health and mHealth ApplicationsICT in Developing Communities

Group cell phones are feasible and acceptable for promoting optimal breastfeeding practices in a women's microcredit program in Nigeria

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Flax, Valerie L., Ibrahim, Alawiyatu Usman, Negerie, Mekebeb, Yakubu, Danjuma, Leatherman, Sheila, Bentley, Margaret E.·2017·Maternal & Child Nutrition

DOI 10.1111/mcn.12261PMC PMC5027179

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Abstract

As part of a breastfeeding promotion intervention trial in Nigeria, we provided one cell phone per group of 5–7 microcredit clients and instructed the group's cell phone recipient to share weekly breastfeeding voice and text messages with group members. We measured the feasibility and acceptability of using group cell phones by conducting semi‐structured exit interviews with 195 microcredit clients whose babies were born during the intervention (target group), in‐depth interviews with eight phone recipients and nine non‐phone recipients, and 16 focus group discussions with other microcredit clients. Women in the target group said the group phone worked well or very well (64%). They were motivated to try the recommended practices because they trusted the information (58%) and had support from others (35%). Approximately 44% of target women reported that their groups met and shared messages at least once a week. Women in groups that met at least weekly had higher odds of exclusive breastfeeding up to 6 months (OR 5.6, 95% CI 1.6, 19.7) than women in groups that never met. In‐depth interviews and focus group discussions indicated that non‐phone recipients had positive feelings towards phone recipients, the group phone met participants' needs, and messages were often shared outside the group. In conclusion, group cell phone messaging to promote breastfeeding among microcredit clients is feasible and acceptable and can be part of an effective behaviour change package.

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Feasibility and Acceptability of Group Cell Phones to Promote Optimal Breastfeeding in a Women's Microcredit Program in Nigeria
Flax, V. L., Ibrahim, A. F., Negerie, M., Yakubu, D., Leatherman, S. T., & Bentley, M. (2015) · The FASEB Journal · doi:10.1096/fasebj.29.1_supplement.120.4
Self-citation
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Flax, V. L., Negerie, M., Ibrahim, A. U., Leatherman, S. T., Daza, E. J., & Bentley, M. E. (2014) · Journal of Nutrition · doi:10.3945/jn.113.190124 · Cited by 109 · see citing works
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Increases Nigerian Womens Adherence to
Recommendations, I. B., & Bentley, M. E. (2016)
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Sellen, D., Mbugua, S., Girard, A. W., Lou, W. Y. W., Duan, W., & Kamau‐Mbuthia, E. W. (2014) · The FASEB Journal · doi:10.1096/fasebj.28.1_supplement.119.5 · Cited by 8 · see citing works

Authors: Flax, V. L., Ibrahim, A. U., Negerie, M., Yakubu, D., Leatherman, S., & Bentley, M. E.
Affiliations: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (US)
Primary Health Care Department Bauchi Local Government Bauchi Nigeria
Partners for Development Silver Spring Maryland USA
Partners for Development Bauchi Nigeria
ORCID: Flax, Valerie L.
Bentley, Margaret E.
Venue: Maternal & Child Nutrition
Publisher: Wiley
Published: 2016-03-18
Volume: 13
Issue: 1
ISSN: 1740-8695 (ISSN-L)
1740-8709
DOI: 10.1111/mcn.12261
PMC: PMC5027179
OpenAlex: W2297271167
Cited by: 27
References: 21
Citations by year: 2025: 1 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 1 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 1
FWCI: 3.43
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: green
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Licence: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor (vor)
Locations: Maternal and Child Nutrition (publishedVersion)
PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
Carolina Digital Repository (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill) (submittedVersion)
UNC Libraries
Funders: Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
Topics: Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Breastfeeding Practices and Influences
Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Mobile Health and mHealth Applications
Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Information Systems › ICT in Developing Communities
Keywords: mobile health messaging, breastfeeding promotion, exclusive breastfeeding, women's microfinance, behavior change, feasibility and acceptability, group messaging, Nigeria
MeSH terms: Adult, Breast Feeding, Educational Status, Feasibility Studies, Female, Health Promotion, Humans, Middle Aged, Nigeria, Cluster Analysis, Focus Groups, Cell Phone, Young Adult, Text Messaging

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Group cell phones are feasible and acceptable for promoting optimal breastfeeding practices in a women's microcredit program in Nigeria

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