A NOVEL MOBILE PHONE APPLICATION TO PREVENT BREASTFEEDING PROBLEMS AMONG LOW INCOME WOMEN: A RANDOMIZED CONTROL TRIAL

Kiki Rizqi Ependi, Mekar Dwi Anggraeni*, Aprilia Kartikasari

Nursing Department, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universitas Jenderal Soedirman

Corresponding author: Mekar Dwi Anggraeni, mekar.anggraeni@unsoed.ac.id, 081222275115

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Low exclusive breastfeeding rate is influenced by various factors. Breastfeeding problems were significantly affected breastfeeding duration among women in low income country. This study aimed to determine whether a mobile phone application-MASI-prevent breastfeeding problems among women living in a low income, developing country.

Method: The design of this study was a quasi-experiment with control group pretest and posttest design. The techniques used are probability sampling with simple random sampling. The sample in this study was 54 respondents. The instruments used in this study were the demographic characteristic questionnaire and the Breastfeeding Experience Scale (BES). Data was analyzed using a t-test.

Results: The mean of respondent’s age was 29 years old. The majority of respondents graduated Junior High School, were housewives, had income ≥150 USD, and had vaginal delivery. There was a significant difference of pretest and posttest scores in the intervention group (t=0.03, p<0.05). While there was no significant difference of pretest and posttest scores in the control group (t=0.161, p>0.05). There was a difference of post-test scores between the intervention and control groups after being given mobile application (t=0.000, p<0.05).

Conclusion: The novel mobile phone application has been proven effective in reducing the problems among low income women.

Keywords: Breastfeeding problems, Low income, Mobile phone application