Collecting real-time infant feeding and support experience: co-participatory pilot study of mobile health methodology
Abstract Background Breastfeeding rates in the UK have remained stubbornly low despite long-term intervention efforts. Social support is a key, theoretically grounded intervention method, yet social support has been inconsistently related to improved breastfeeding. Understanding of the dynamics betw...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2025-04-01
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| Series: | International Breastfeeding Journal |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13006-025-00707-7 |
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| author | Abigail E. Page Emily H. Emmott Rebecca Sear Nilushka Perera Matthew Black Jake Elgood-Field Sarah Myers |
| author_facet | Abigail E. Page Emily H. Emmott Rebecca Sear Nilushka Perera Matthew Black Jake Elgood-Field Sarah Myers |
| author_sort | Abigail E. Page |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Breastfeeding rates in the UK have remained stubbornly low despite long-term intervention efforts. Social support is a key, theoretically grounded intervention method, yet social support has been inconsistently related to improved breastfeeding. Understanding of the dynamics between infant feeding and social support is currently limited by retrospective collection of quantitative data, which prohibits causal inferences, and by unrepresentative sampling of mothers. In this paper, we present a case-study presenting the development of a data collection methodology designed to address these challenges. Methods In April–May 2022 we co-produced and piloted a mobile health (mHealth) data collection methodology linked to a pre-existing pregnancy and parenting app in the UK (Baby Buddy), prioritising real-time daily data collection about women's postnatal experiences. To explore the potential of mHealth in-app surveys, here we report the iterative design process and the results from a mixed-method (explorative data analysis of usage data and content analysis of interview data) four-week pilot. Results Participants (n = 14) appreciated the feature’s simplicity and its easy integration into their daily routines, particularly valuing the reflective aspect akin to journaling. As a result, participants used the feature regularly and looked forward to doing so. We find no evidence that key sociodemographic metrics were associated with women’s enjoyment or engagement. Based on participant feedback, important next steps are to design in-feature feedback and tracking systems to help maintain motivation. Conclusions Reflecting on future opportunities, this case-study underscores that mHealth in-app surveys may be an effective way to collect prospective real-time data on complex infant feeding behaviours and experiences during the postnatal period, with important implications for public health and social science research. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-2f12ec4e694249af97d6d9a4c082b10e |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1746-4358 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Breastfeeding Journal |
| spelling | doaj-art-2f12ec4e694249af97d6d9a4c082b10e2025-08-20T02:25:41ZengBMCInternational Breastfeeding Journal1746-43582025-04-0120111710.1186/s13006-025-00707-7Collecting real-time infant feeding and support experience: co-participatory pilot study of mobile health methodologyAbigail E. Page0Emily H. Emmott1Rebecca Sear2Nilushka PereraMatthew BlackJake Elgood-FieldSarah Myers3Centre for Culture and Evolution, Brunel University LondonDepartment of Anthropology, University College LondonCentre for Culture and Evolution, Brunel University LondonBirthRites Lise Meitner Research Group, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary AnthropologyAbstract Background Breastfeeding rates in the UK have remained stubbornly low despite long-term intervention efforts. Social support is a key, theoretically grounded intervention method, yet social support has been inconsistently related to improved breastfeeding. Understanding of the dynamics between infant feeding and social support is currently limited by retrospective collection of quantitative data, which prohibits causal inferences, and by unrepresentative sampling of mothers. In this paper, we present a case-study presenting the development of a data collection methodology designed to address these challenges. Methods In April–May 2022 we co-produced and piloted a mobile health (mHealth) data collection methodology linked to a pre-existing pregnancy and parenting app in the UK (Baby Buddy), prioritising real-time daily data collection about women's postnatal experiences. To explore the potential of mHealth in-app surveys, here we report the iterative design process and the results from a mixed-method (explorative data analysis of usage data and content analysis of interview data) four-week pilot. Results Participants (n = 14) appreciated the feature’s simplicity and its easy integration into their daily routines, particularly valuing the reflective aspect akin to journaling. As a result, participants used the feature regularly and looked forward to doing so. We find no evidence that key sociodemographic metrics were associated with women’s enjoyment or engagement. Based on participant feedback, important next steps are to design in-feature feedback and tracking systems to help maintain motivation. Conclusions Reflecting on future opportunities, this case-study underscores that mHealth in-app surveys may be an effective way to collect prospective real-time data on complex infant feeding behaviours and experiences during the postnatal period, with important implications for public health and social science research.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13006-025-00707-7Human-centred designInfant feedingSocial supportMHealthCo-production |
| spellingShingle | Abigail E. Page Emily H. Emmott Rebecca Sear Nilushka Perera Matthew Black Jake Elgood-Field Sarah Myers Collecting real-time infant feeding and support experience: co-participatory pilot study of mobile health methodology International Breastfeeding Journal Human-centred design Infant feeding Social support MHealth Co-production |
| title | Collecting real-time infant feeding and support experience: co-participatory pilot study of mobile health methodology |
| title_full | Collecting real-time infant feeding and support experience: co-participatory pilot study of mobile health methodology |
| title_fullStr | Collecting real-time infant feeding and support experience: co-participatory pilot study of mobile health methodology |
| title_full_unstemmed | Collecting real-time infant feeding and support experience: co-participatory pilot study of mobile health methodology |
| title_short | Collecting real-time infant feeding and support experience: co-participatory pilot study of mobile health methodology |
| title_sort | collecting real time infant feeding and support experience co participatory pilot study of mobile health methodology |
| topic | Human-centred design Infant feeding Social support MHealth Co-production |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13006-025-00707-7 |
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