Table 1 The basic characteristics of the included studies (n = 18)
1st author/year/ design/ | Countries | Characteristics of Participants | n, Subjects in Intervention/ Control groups (n, Working/ N total) | Telelactation Intervention | Outcomes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Services activities | Platforms | Providers | Usual care | Follow-up mode/period | BF outcomes | ||||
Amin, 2022 [46] Quasi-experiment | Egypt | -Primiparous pregnant women -Mean age: 23.89 ± 1.50 -Employed 88% | 60/60 (106/120) | Scheduled online education via Zoom and on-demand consultation via WhatApp support during 2 months | Zoom and WhatsApp | Nurses | Not mentioned | -Interview at 1, and 3 months | 1.BF knowledge 2. BF attitude 3. BFSE |
Cauble, 2021[47] RCTs | USA | -Primiparous pregnant and Postpartum women -Mean age: 26.2 ± 4.3 -Employed 54% | 19/22 (22/41) | Weekly support via telephone call during antenatal (6 sessions) | Acano Audio Conferencing System | IBCLCs | Plus, Usual care | -Email, REDCap survey at 2 weeks, 2, 4, 6 months | 1. ABF 2. EBF |
Fan, 2022 [48] RCTs | Hong Kong | -Primiparous pregnant women -Mean age: 33.0 ± 4.3 -Employed 82% | 18/15 (27/33) | Weekly support and consultation via WhatsApp calls and text messages for 6 months | Trained peer support | Plus, Usual care | - Telephone F/U at 1, 2, 4, 6 months | 1. ABF 2. EBF 3. BF attitude 4. BFSE | |
Forster, 2019 [49] RCTs | Australia | -Primiparous postpartum women -Mean age: 31.0 ± 5.0 -Employed 96.8% | 501/515 (984/1,016) | BF support on days 4–6, then on days 10, weekly in the first 3 months, monthly in 3–6 months, via telephone call, and on mother’s demand support | Telephone | Trained peer volunteer counselors | Plus, Usual care | - Email survey and telephone interview at 6 months | 1. ABF 2. EBF |
Fu, 2014 [50] RCTs | Hong Kong | -Primiparous postpartum women -Mean age: 30.5 ± 4.5 -Employed 78.5% | 255/257 (402/512) | In-hospital support during 24 h and weekly support via telephone call during 4 weeks postpartum | Telephone | Midwife or IBCLCs | Plus, Usual care | - Telephone F/U at 1, 2, 3 months | 1. ABF 2. EBF |
Iamchareon, 2020 [51] Quasi-experiment | Thailand | -Primiparous postpartum women -Mean age: 23.92 ± 4.05 -Employed 69% | 80/77 (108/157) | Onsite providing BF information and practices with BF support via telephone call at 6 weeks, 3 and 6 months | Telephone | Trained nurses | Plus, Usual care | - Telephone F/U at 6 weeks, 3 and 6 months | 1. EBF 2. BF knowledge 3. BF practices |
Jiewtamai, 2020 [52] Quasi-experiment | Thailand | - Postpartum women -Mean age: 27.61 ± 5.75 -Employed 63.6% | 33/33 (42/66) | Onsite providing BF information and practices with scheduled telephone follow up | Telephone | Nurses | Plus, usual care | -Telephone follow up at 6 months | 1. BFSE 2. BF practices |
Monsaeng, 2016 [53] Quasi-experiment | Thailand | -Pregnant and postpartum women -Age range: 20–30 y. -Employed 76% | 29/29 (44/58) | Onsite providing BF information and practices with consultation during service hours and extended hours via telephone Line App for on-demand consultation | Line App | Lactation nurses | Plus, Usual care | - Onsite visit at 1 week, 1, 2–4, and 6 months and telephone F/U at 4 weeks | 1. EBF 2. BF knowledge 3. BF practices |
Ogaji, 2021 [54] RCTs | Nigeria | -Postpartum women -Mean age: > 30 years -Employed 89% | 67/64 (117/131) | - Weekly support in the first two weeks then monthly support via telephone call for 6 months and on mother’s demand call | Telephone | Pediatrician | Plus, Usual care | - Telephone F/U at 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 months and home visit at 6 months | 1. EBF |
Pengpit, 2022 [55] Quasi-experiment | Thailand | - Postpartum women -Mean age: 29.0 ± 4.72 -Employed 60% | 30/30 (36/60) | Onsite providing BF information and practices with scheduled telephone follow up | Telephone | Nurses | Plus, usual care | - Telephone follow up and BF clinic visit at 2 weeks | 1. BF knowledge 2. BF attitude 3. BF practices |
Phaiboonbunpot, 2015 [56] Quasi-experiment | Thailand | -Primiparous postpartum women -Mean age: 22.8 ± 5.2 -Employed 60% | 16/16 (19/32) | Onsite providing BF information and BF practices with scheduled telephone consultation and follow up | Telephone | Nurses | Not mentioned | - Telephone follow up at 2 weeks | 1. BF knowledge 2. BF attitude 3. BF practices |
Prasitwattanaseree, 2019 [57] RCTs | Thailand | -Primiparous pregnant and postpartum women -Mean age: IG = 27.9 ± 4.6, CG = 27.1 ± 4.7 -Employed 77% | 41/42 (64/83) | Onsite providing BF information and practices in ANC with on days 7 support and then monthly support during 3–6 months via telephone call | Telephone | Trained nurses | Plus, Usual care | - Telephone F/U at 7 days, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 months | 1. EBF 2. BFSE 3. BF practices |
Puharic, 2020 [58] RCTs | Croatia | -Primiparous pregnant and postpartum women -Age range: 18–35 y. -Employed 75% | 129/123 (189/252) | BF Support in antenatal care, then monthly support during the first 3 months postpartum via telephone call | Telephone | Trained nurses | Not mentioned | - Telephone call record at 3, 6 months | 1. ABF 2. EBF 3. BF attitude 4. BFSE |
Ruenprot, 2023 [59] Quasi-experiment | Thailand | -Primiparous pregnant and postpartum women -Age range: 18–35 y. -Employed 100% | 30/30 (60/60) | Online consultation via telephone Line App in the third trimester, 24 h, 72 h, 1 week, and 1 month postpartum with an onsite home visit at 4–8 weeks postpartum | Line App | Trained nurses and peer volunteer | Plus, Usual care | - Home visit at 4–8 weeks and - Telephone line app F/U at 6 months | 1. EBF 2. BF knowledge |
Seguranyes, 2014 [60] RCTs | Spain | -Postpartum women -Mean age: IG = 31.22 ± 4.71, CG = 31.13 ± 4.76 -Employed 78% | 683/718 (1,093/1,401) | On-demand consultation on VDO or telephone call during service hours (8.0 am-8.0 pm) | ASSIR Skype and Hotline phone | Midwives | Plus, Usual care | - Onsite visit, online consulting record, and telephone F/U at 6 weeks | 1. EBF |
Simonetti, 2012 [61] RCTs | Italy | -Primiparous postpartum women -Mean age: IG = 32.18 ± 3.80, CG = 31.54 ± 3.81 -Employed 69% | 55/59 (79/114) | Weekly support via telephone call during 6 weeks postpartum and on mothers’ demand calls | Telephone | Midwives | Plus, Usual care | - Telephone F/U at 1, 3, 5 months | 1. EBF |
Uscher-Pines, 2020 [62] RCTs | USA | -Pregnant and postpartum women -Mean age: 26.5 ± 5.11 -Employed 55.6% | 94/93 (104/187) | On-demand VDO call with 24-hour access and unlimited requests | Pacify Health’s telelactation App | IBCLCs | Plus, Usual care | -Email online survey at 2 weeks, 1, 3 months | 1. ABF 2. EBF |
Wen, 2020 [63] RCTs | Australia | -Pregnant and postpartum women -Mean age: 32.5 ± 5.0 -Employed 62% | 386/385 (478/771) | Every two months support via telephone call during the first 12 months postpartum | Telephone | Trained nurses | Not mentioned | - Telephone F/U at 6 months | 1. ABF 2. EBF |