OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to assess if the absence of early home visits influenced the mothers' breastfeeding duration and use of medical services. DESIGN: Data from mothers who had given birth during a strike period were compared with data from a reference period with usual work practice. SAMPLE: The study included 3,834 newborn and 375 health visitors, 75 of whom worked during the strike period. INTERVENTION: All families were offered nonstandardized home visits after discharge in the reference period. During the strike, the service was based on individual risk assessment. RESULTS: Overall, no difference in breastfeeding duration between the two periods was seen, but unvisited mothers in the strike period had shorter durations of full breastfeeding than a comparable group of mothers in the reference period (p < .005). Moreover, mothers in the strike period reported a significantly higher use of medical services. The mothers' needs for postnatal visits differed depending on parity: primiparae underlined uncertainty, multiparae underlined previous breastfeeding experience. Mothers had missed out on guidance on all areas of the health visitors' service. CONCLUSION: Nonstandardized home visits by health visitors were associated with a longer breastfeeding duration. The postnatal visits depended on parity and unmet needs increased the use of medical services.
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to assess if the absence of early home visits influenced the mothers' breastfeeding duration and use of medical services. DESIGN: Data from mothers who had given birth during a strike period were compared with data from a reference period with usual work practice. SAMPLE: The study included 3,834 newborn and 375 health visitors, 75 of whom worked during the strike period. INTERVENTION: All families were offered nonstandardized home visits after discharge in the reference period. During the strike, the service was based on individual risk assessment. RESULTS: Overall, no difference in breastfeeding duration between the two periods was seen, but unvisited mothers in the strike period had shorter durations of full breastfeeding than a comparable group of mothers in the reference period (p < .005). Moreover, mothers in the strike period reported a significantly higher use of medical services. The mothers' needs for postnatal visits differed depending on parity: primiparae underlined uncertainty, multiparae underlined previous breastfeeding experience. Mothers had missed out on guidance on all areas of the health visitors' service. CONCLUSION: Nonstandardized home visits by health visitors were associated with a longer breastfeeding duration. The postnatal visits depended on parity and unmet needs increased the use of medical services.
Authors: Alice Mannocci; Azzurra Massimi; Franca Scaglietta; Sara Ciavardini; Michela Scollo; Claudia Scaglione; Giuseppe La Torre Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2021-04-12 Impact factor: 3.390