Table 3 Effectiveness of interventions in included studies

Arlotti et al. (1998) [35]

36

Peer counselling

(telephone, letter and in person at office)

Mean rates of EBF^, experimental VS control:

• at 2 weeks, 53% vs 17%

• at 1 month, 40% vs 27%

• at 2 months, 33% vs 13%

• at 3 months, 17% vs 6%

Bunik et al. (2010) [36]

341

Telephone support from a nurse

No mothers EBF

Chapman et al. (2013) [37]

206

Peer counselling including prenatal session (education), in-hospital and in-home postnatal sessions

EBF rates, experimental VS control:

• at 1 month, 17.6% vs 12.1% (p = 0.37)

• at 2 months, 11.9% vs 11.1% (p = 0.88)

• at 3 months, 5.0% vs 9.4% (p = 0.49)

• at 4 months, 1.6% vs 4.8% (p = 0.62)

• at 5 months, 1.6% vs 1.6% (p = 0.999)

• at 6 months, 1.7% vs 0.0% (p = 0.49)

Di Meglio et al. (2010) [38]

78

Peer counselling via telephone support

Duration of EBF, experimental vs control:

Median 35 days vs 10 days, P < 0.01.

Pugh et al. (2002) [39]

41

Nurse/peer counselling team

In-hospital, in-home and telephone support

Mean rates of EBF, experimental VS control:

• at 3 months, 45% (n = 9) vs 25% (n = 5)

• at 6 months, 30% (n = 6) vs 15% (n = 3)

χ² = 1.29–1.75; P = 0.09–0.12

Serano et al. (2010) [40]

100

Video instruction for baby massage delivered by nurses

Mean rates of EBF, experimental VS control:

• at 2 months, 85.7% (n = 30) vs 81.54% (n = 53)

• at 4 months, 71.4% (n = 25) vs 73.8% (n = 48)

χ² = 0.28–0.07; P = 0.595–0.795

Snell et al. (1992) [41]

88

Gift pack vs non gift pack

EBF rates, non-gift pack vs gift pack group:

• at 1 week: 80% vs 68% (p > 0.05)

• at 3 weeks: 68% vs 33% (p < 0.004)

Wambach et al. (2011) [42]

390

Lactation consultant and peer counsellor team

Prenatal education, in-hospital and telephone support

EBF rates, experimental vs controls:

• at 3 months: 32.14% vs 13.33%

• at 6 months: 35.71% vs 22.22%

Washio et al. (2017)

[43]

36

Financial incentives

No significant difference in self-reported EBF rate. (figures not reported)