Efficay of Nurse-led Breastfeeding SUpportive CAre (B-SUCA) on Time of Initiation of Breastfeeding, Exclusive Breastfeeding Behaviour and Perinatal Outcomes among mother-newborn dyads in a Tertiary Referral Hospital of India: A Randomised Conrolled Trial

Background: Despite efforts to promote and encourage mother-newborn Skin-to-Skin contact immediately after delivery for the exclusive breastfeeding behaviour, the practice is still low which may be due to multiple factors. The World Health Organization (WHO) also recommends the practice of SSC for at least one hour after birth. Thus, researchers conducted a trial to find out whether B-SUCA, an integrated intervention which is a combination of breast crawl and Skin-to-Skin contact is effective for the initiation of breastfeeding, behaviour and exclusive breastfeeding, which will directly improve the perinatal outcomes. The present study efforts to supports the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) on no poverty, good health and well-being and partnerships for the goals, Methods: A randomised controlled trial was conducted between 2022 and 2024 at the tertiary referral hospital, India. About 160 participants as per inclusion criteria were enrolled and the allocation ratio is 50:50 using the CONSORT 2010 with 80 each in experimental and control group. Experimental group received the B-SUCA and control group was given a routine care. Tools viz; Time of initiation of breastfeeding, Breastfeeding behaviour assessment, Exclusively Breastfeeding and Perinatal Outcomes were used to observe and collect information from both the study group. Institutional Ethical clearance and written consent was taken from the participants. The data were analysed using Jamovi . (Version 2.6). Results: Findings show there is a statistically significant differences on time of initiation of breast feeding with p-value <0.001 level of significance between the experimental and control group. Majority of participants in the experimental group scored ‘1’ in each item of the Breastfeeding behaviour assessment and statistically there is a significant difference among experimental and control group in the attachment responses (p<0.002) emotional bonding, (p<0.001) and swallowing behaviour during breastfeeding (p<0.002). However, no significant differences were found in positioning of baby to breast and health of breast during breastfeeding. Majority 67(84%) had exclusive breastfeeding at 6 months as compared to control group 56(70%). Perinatal outcomes show statistically significant differences in newborn’s body temperature (p<0.001) and weight of the baby (p<0.039) between the experimental and control group respectively. Time taken for placental separation was 7 – 16 mins in the experimental and 8 -18 mins in the control group respectively with statistically significant differences (p<0.001) between the study groups. Conclusion: The researchers found that there is an effect of B-SUCA intervention on the time of initiation of breast feeding, breastfeeding Behaviour and increased rate of long term exclusively breastfeeding. A successful mother-newborn SSC means better breastfeeding behaviour, exclusive breastfeeding and a healthy perinatal outcome. Thus, there is still a need to conduct further studies on its long-term effect. Trial registration: CTRI Reg. No. is CTRI/2022/03/040974, CTRI Reg. dated on 10/03/2022.