bfGPS®: A mobile app for promoting breastfeeding-friendly communities. A design and development study (Preprint)

BACKGROUND Breastfeeding is vital for the health and well-being of both mothers and infants, and it is crucial to create supportive environments that promote and sustain breastfeeding practices. OBJECTIVE This study aims to describe the process followed the development of an application called “bfGPS” to provide territory-wide information on breastfeeding facilities, with the goal of fostering a breastfeeding-friendly community. We also gain insights into how breastfeeding individuals and community perceive and experience bfGPS. METHODS For the design, evaluation and development of the app, two qualitative studies were conducted, applying a user-centered design approach. For the performance testing, ten focus groups and 19 one-on-one interviews were conducted with staff working in public premises (n=29) and breastfeeding individuals (n=29). For the usability evaluation, semi-structured, in-depth, one-to-one interviews were conducted with breastfeeding individuals (N=30). Content analysis was used to analyze the data. RESULTS The development of the bfGPS was divided into three phases: (1) planning, prototyping and performance testing, (2) implementation and updates, and (3) usability evaluation. Three main themes emerged from the usability evaluation: bfGPS improves the community experience for breastfeeding individuals, facilitates tracking the infant’s growth, and provides suggestions for further development. CONCLUSIONS bfGPS application is the first user-friendly tool designed to assist users in locating breastfeeding facilities within the community. It stands as a guide for similar healthcare app developments, emphasizing the importance of accurate, current data to ensure user adoption and sustained use. The app’s potential lies in the support and reinforcement of breastfeeding practices, couple with self-management strategies.