Education Using WhatsApp and Face-to-Face Meetings on IYCF for the Nutritional Status of Infants

Effect of Education Using WhatsApp and Face-to-Face Meetings Concerning Infant and Young Child Feeding in the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Nutritional Status of Infants: Protocol for a Prospective Interventional Study

The COVID-19 pandemic affects all activities, including stunting prevention. Almost all cities implement Internet-based learning can be used as an alternative to providing education and allows to exchange personal experiences and also establish interpersonal relationships. Education is one of the intervention efforts that aims to foster and improve the health status of the community, while counselling is a technical part of the educational process itself. blended counselling is the integration of online and offline counselling. Blended counselling is a strategy in the covid-19 pandemic condition and after pandemic. the virtual Education method has also been widely used around the world. The WhatsApp application ranks 2 among the most popular social media in Indonesia.

Blended education innovations are offered online in the form of digital booklets, videos, online discussions, and online consultations carried out via WhatsApp and offline visits according to health protocols. This blended education is expected to facilitate the work of cadres in providing Infant and young child feeding (IYCF) education, to improve IYCF practices for infant nutritional status.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Nutritional Stunting
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Blended education of Infant and Young Child Feeding

Detailed Description

The selection of the research group as the intervention and control group was done by random allocation. Respondents were recruited by self-selection conducted by the research team and the sampling method within the group (treatment group and control group) used was purposive sampling. Recruitment was carried out by means of respondent data obtained from community health center data. Mothers who met the criteria were then included as the research sample. The sample size in this study was determined based on the formula for hypothesis testing on the following two population averages (Lemeshow, et al, 1997). the minimum sample size for the intervention and control groups from previous studies (saleem, et al, 2014) with the results of each group the number of participants for each group of 57 participants plus 10% lost to follow-up, which is 6. the minimum number of samples is 63 samples so that the total number of a minimum sample of 126 respondents.

Participants were recruited by self-selection conducted by the research team and the sampling method within the group (intervention group and control group) used was purposive sampling. Recruitment was carried out by means of respondent data obtained from Primary health care data. Mothers who meet the criteria are then included as research samples. All eligible pregnant women who refer to primary health care for prenatal care at 36-40 weeks of gestation will be requested to participate in the study.

The study uses quantitative data collection methods to evaluate the process and outcome of blended education program. The IYCF assessment include questions regarding demographic data, including age, education, employment status, social economic status, and birth spacing for descriptive information.

The question pre-test post-test for cadres and IYCF education and counselling practice were drawn from IYCF counselling module ministry of health 2014. To assessed the quality of the trainers (research team, nutrition workers for IYCF counsellors and lactation counsellors), clarity of IYCF materials, presentations and training locations were drawn from the questionnaire developed by the researcher. The result effect education for participants by cadre assess using the questionnaire knowledge breastfeeding, responsive feeding and complementary feeding, attitude breastfeeding, self-efficacy breastfeeding and complementary-feeding. the validity and reliability of the questionnaire were tested.

The question pre-test post-test for participants using the questionnaire knowledge breastfeeding, responsive feeding and complementary feeding, attitude breastfeeding, self-efficacy breastfeeding and complementary-feeding. the validity and reliability of the questionnaire were tested. To assessed the quality of the cadre clarity of IYCF materials, presentations and WhatsApp media education were drawn from the questionnaire developed by the researcher. the research team and cadre will assess the respondent (using a questionnaire) about IYCF practice. The data taken at the time of observation were early initiation of breastfeeding, exclusive breastfeeding, breastfeeding >6 months, complementary feeding and continued breastfeeding. Anthropometric measurements for infant nutritional status were carried out from birth to 7 months of age. Bodyweight, height, and head circumference were measured by cadres accompanied by research assistants. Measurement of weight and height using GAMAKIDS, while head circumference using a tape measure. Measurements were taken once a month at the same time, without wearing clothes.

Plan for missing data will be used regression imputation and last observation carried forward. In regression imputation, the existing variables are used to make a prediction, and then the predicted value is substituted as if an actual obtained value. This studies are performed with the longitudinal or time-series approach, in which the subjects are repeatedly measured over a series of time-points because the blended education intervention start from birth to 7 month old. This method replaces every missing value with the last observed value from the same subject. Whenever a value is missing, it is replaced with the last observed value.

Descriptive statistics will be used for baseline data. the collected data will be analyzed in the SPSS software (version 20) using descriptive statistics, such as frequency distribution tables. Also, T-test to see the difference in the average scores between the intervention group and the control group, as well as the pretest-posttest value, namely the influence of the blended education from antenatal period about IYCF on maternal knowledge, attitudes, and self-efficacy. A Chi-square test was also carried out to determine the relationship between two variables whose measurement parameters have been categorized.

One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) will be used to the effect of blended education from antenatal period about IYCF on infant nutritional status together with knowledge, attitude, self-efficacy, and infection status. The confounding factors and the effect of modifier, stratification analysis was used mantel hanzel's test. The p value of less than 0.05 will be considered statistically significant

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 126
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Indonesia
  • Yogyakarta
    • Bantul, Yogyakarta, Indonesia, 55185
      • Sewon community health center
    • Bantul, Yogyakarta, Indonesia, 55761
      • Pandak community health center
    • Bantul, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
      • Bambanglipuro Health centre

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 20 years to 35 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Pregnant women who are currently pregnant for the first or second time
• Mother does not have chronic disease such as asthma, hypertension and coronary heart disease
• Planning to stay minimal for a year in the research area
• Having smartphone with access to internet and whatsApp messaging application

Exclusion Criteria:

• Participants who have multiple pregnancies
• After the baby was born has a congenital disease/congenital disorders
• Participants unwilling to continue with the study

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Other
• Allocation: N/A
• Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

1

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Intervention / Treatment

Experimental: Intervention group; The intervention group is third trimester pregnant women with 37 weeks of gestation who received blended education. Blended education is provided by cadres and nutritionists, both online and offline. Education consists of online assistance with digital booklets, videos via WhatsApp by cadres and consultation with nutritionists as well as home visits (offline/face-to-face) by cadres and the research team. One education is done during the third trimester at 37 weeks of gestation, second education is done at 38 weeks' gestation, the third education is done when the baby is 3 months old, all three of which are done online. Mother will be visited every month by cadres and the research team from birth to 7 month old. Consultation with a nutritionist is carried out via WhatsApp calls at critical times the failure rate in IYCF practice was for infants aged 1 month, 3 months, 6 and 7 months

Behavioral: Blended education of Infant and Young Child Feeding; Blended education is an intervention about IYCF consisting of 3 components: Education via WhatsApp group, counselling face to face, Consultation with nutritionist via WhatsApp call. In the intervention group, participants will get blended education about IYCF provided by trained cadres. Education via WhatsApp group. The implementation of this educational program was carried out for 3 meeting sessions, where previously trained cadres had distributed videos and digital booklets for IYCF material and opened a discussion session at the end of the meeting in WhatsApp group. Face to face Counselling (Home visit). The cadres conduct home visits every month when the participants have given birth until the child is 7 months old. Consultation with nutritionist via WhatsApp call. Consultations were carried out via WhatsApp calls about IYCF practice was for infants aged 1 month, 3 months, 6 and 7 months.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Infant and young child feeding practice (early initiation of breastfeeding practice)	The process of breastfeeding that begins as soon as possible, immediately after birth by allowing the baby to make skin-to-skin contact with the mother's skin for at least the first hour after birth, nominal scale, Measurement using a questionnaire	at birth to one hour
Infant and young child feeding practice (Exclusive breastfeeding practice)	The mother's behaviour is to give only breast milk without any additional food/drink, except for drugs or vitamins from birth to 6 months of age. nominal scale. Measurement using a questionnaire	at birth to 6 months
Infant and young child feeding practice (complementary feeding practice)	Complementary feeding activities are carried out by providing food at the right time and adequate in terms of quantity, ratio scale, measurement using a questionnaire,The higher scores mean a better practice complementary feeding.	6 months to 7 months
Infant and young child feeding practice (continued breastfeeding >6 month practice)	Breastfeeding at the age of > 6 months as an additional consumption of complementary foods for breast milk, ordinal scale, measurement using a questionnaire, not good=given <10 times, good=given >10 times,The higher scores mean a better practice	6 months to 7 months
Infant Nutritional status	The baby's body condition is determined by the TB/U indicator (according to the WHO-MGRS standard book), nominal scale, body lenght measurement using Infantometer,1=stunting if TB/U <-2 SD 2= not stunting if TB/U -2 SD to < 3 SD, The higher scores mean a better nutritional status of infant	birth to 7 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Changes in knowledge breastfeeding	Ability to give precise answers to questions regarding breastfeeding, interval scale,measurement using a questionnaire totaling 15 items. The value is Poor knowledge (0-10), enough knowledge (11-20), Good knowledge (21-30). The higher scores mean a better knowledge about breastfeeding	37 weeks gestation to the child is 4 months
Changes in attitude breastfeeding	Responses to breastfeeding in the cognitive, affective and psychomotor domains. All items are measured using a 4-point Likert scale, interval scale, measurement using a questionnaire	37 weeks gestation to the child is 6 months
Changes in self-efficacy breastfeeding	Self-efficacy breastfeeding measurement is the score obtained by the research subjects through the responses given to the Breastfeeding Self Efficacy Scale Short Form (BSES-SF) scale, BSES consist of 14 items, ordinal scale, measurement using a questionnaire,The higher score of the the self-efficacy, the better the respondent's self-efficacy	37 weeks gestation to the child is 6 months
Changes in knowledge complementary feeding	Ability to give correct answers to questions regarding complementary feeding, interval scale,measurement using a questionnaire totaling 20 items. The value is Poor knowledge (0-13), enough knowledge (14-27), Good knowledge (28-49). The higher scores mean a better knowledge about complementary feeding.	37 weeks gestation to the child is 7 months
Changes in self-efficacy complementary feeding	Self-efficacy complementary feeding is mother's belief and confidence to carry out complementary feeding activities by providing food at the right and adequate time. ratio scale, measurement using a questionnaire,The higher score of the self-efficacy, the better the respondent's self-efficacy	37 weeks gestation to the child is 7 months
Changes in knowledge of cadre	Knowledge measurement is ability to provide precise answers to questions regarding about infant and young child feeding,Interval scale, measurement using a questionnaire totalling 15 items.The value is Poor knowledge (1-5), enough knowledge (6-10), Good knowledge (11-15). The higher scores mean a better knowledge of cadres.	one week
Changes in practice counselling of cadre	Practice is the ability of cadres to provide counselling to participants, interval scale, measurement using a questionnaire totalling 26 items. The value is poor practice (0-8), enough practice (9-17), good practice (18-26). The higher scores mean a better practice counselling of cadres.	37 weeks gestation to the child is 7 months

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Gadjah Mada University
• Investigators: Study Director: Siti Helmyati, ph.D, Gadjah Mada University

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Epstein A, Moucheraud C, Sarma H, Rahman M, Tariqujjaman M, Ahmed T, Glenn J, Bossert T, Kruk ME. Does health worker performance affect clients' health behaviors? A multilevel analysis from Bangladesh. BMC Health Serv Res. 2019 Jul 24;19(1):516. doi: 10.1186/s12913-019-4205-z.
• Mousavi SR, Amiri-Farahani L, Hasanpoor-Azghady SB, Saravi SO. Comparing the effect of in-person and virtual childbirth preparation trainings on the fear of childbirth (FOC) and pregnancy experience of pregnant women: protocol for a quasi-experimental feasibility study. Pilot Feasibility Stud. 2021 Nov 5;7(1):194. doi: 10.1186/s40814-021-00933-w.
• Susiloretni KA, Hadi H, Prabandari YS, Soenarto YS, Wilopo SA. What works to improve duration of exclusive breastfeeding: lessons from the exclusive breastfeeding promotion program in rural Indonesia. Matern Child Health J. 2015 Jul;19(7):1515-25. doi: 10.1007/s10995-014-1656-z.
• Susiloretni KA, Hadi H, Blakstad MM, Smith ER, Shankar AH. Does exclusive breastfeeding relate to the longer duration of breastfeeding? A prospective cohort study. Midwifery. 2019 Feb;69:163-171. doi: 10.1016/j.midw.2018.11.008. Epub 2018 Nov 19.
• Kang H. The prevention and handling of the missing data. Korean J Anesthesiol. 2013 May;64(5):402-6. doi: 10.4097/kjae.2013.64.5.402. Epub 2013 May 24.
• Saleem AF, Mahmud S, Baig-Ansari N, Zaidi AK. Impact of maternal education about complementary feeding on their infants' nutritional outcomes in low- and middle-income households: a community-based randomized interventional study in Karachi, Pakistan. J Health Popul Nutr. 2014 Dec;32(4):623-33.
• Hosmer DW, Hosmer T, Le Cessie S, Lemeshow S. A comparison of goodness-of-fit tests for the logistic regression model. Stat Med. 1997 May 15;16(9):965-80. doi: 10.1002/(sici)1097-0258(19970515)16:93.0.co;2-o.

Helpful Links

• Blended counselling a means of supporting students University of Eastern Finland
• UNICEF/WHO/World Bank Group Joint Child Malnutrition Estimates

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): October 7, 2022
• Primary Completion (Actual): July 15, 2023
• Study Completion (Actual): August 15, 2023

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: August 9, 2022
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: August 13, 2022
• First Posted (Actual): August 16, 2022

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): September 15, 2023
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: September 13, 2023
• Last Verified: September 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Infant and Young Child Feeding; blended education; Nutritional status of Infant
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Pathologic Processes; Growth Disorders
• Other Study ID Numbers: 110289

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No