Impact of an intervention for perinatal anxiety on breastfeeding: findings from the Happy Mother—Healthy Baby randomized controlled trial in Pakistan

Abstract

Background

The study examined the effects of Happy Mother—Healthy Baby (HMHB), a cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) intervention on breastfeeding outcomes for Pakistani women with prenatal anxiety.

Methods

Breastfeeding practices were evaluated in a randomized controlled trial between 2019 and 2022 in a public hospital in Pakistan. The intervention group was randomized to receive six HMHB sessions targeted towards prenatal anxiety (with breastfeeding discussed in the final session), while both groups also received enhanced usual care. Breastfeeding was defined in four categories: early breastfeeding, exclusive early breastfeeding, recent breastfeeding, and exclusive recent breastfeeding. Early breastfeeding referred to the first 24 h after birth and recent breastfeeding referred to the last 24 h before an assessment at six-weeks postpartum. Potential confounders included were mother’s age, baseline depression and anxiety levels, stress, social support, if the first pregnancy (or not) and history of stillbirth or miscarriage as well as child’s gestational age, gender. Both intent-to-treat and per-protocol analyses were examined. Stratified analyses were also used to compare intervention efficacy for those with mild vs severe anxiety.

Results

Out of the 1307 eligible women invited to participate, 107 declined to participate and 480 were lost to follow-up, resulting in 720 women who completed the postpartum assessment. Both intervention and control arms were similar on demographic characteristics (e.g. sex, age, income, family structure). In the primary intent-to-treat analysis, there was a marginal impact of the intervention on early breastfeeding (OR 1.38, 95% CI: 0.99–1.92; 75.4% ( N = 273) vs. 69.0% ( N = 247)) and a non-significant association with other breastfeeding outcomes (OR1.42, 95% CI: 0.89–2.27; (47) 12.9% vs. (34) 9.5%, exclusive early breastfeeding; OR 1.48, 95% CI: 0.94–2.35; 90% ( N = 327) vs. 86% ( N = 309), recent breastfeeding; OR1.01, 95% CI: 0.76–1.35; 49% ( N = 178) vs 49% ( N = 175) exclusive recent breastfeeding). Among those who completed the intervention’s six core sessions, the intervention increased the odds of early breastfeeding (OR1.69, 95% CI:1.12–2.54; 79% ( N = 154) vs. 69% ( N = 247)) and recent breastfeeding (OR 2.05, 95% CI:1.10–3.81; 93% ( N = 181) vs. 86% ( N = 309)). For women with mild anxiety at enrolment, the intervention increased the odds of recent breastfeeding (OR 2.41, 95% CI:1.17–5.00; 92% ( N = 137) vs. 83% ( N = 123).

Conclusions

The study highlights the potential of CBT-based interventions like HMHB to enhance breastfeeding among women with mild perinatal anxiety, contingent upon full participation in the intervention.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03880032.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13006-024-00655-8.