What does this research mean for the field?

A structured antenatal counseling program combined with systematic postpartum follow-up significantly improves exclusive breastfeeding rates, achieving sustained rates of 81.5% at 6 months. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.INCREMENTAL. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

What question did this study set out to answer?

To evaluate the impact of a structured quality improvement intervention featuring antenatal counseling and scheduled postpartum follow-up on exclusive breastfeeding rates up to 6 months.

September 8, 2026Journal of Human Lactation

Quality Improvement Initiative to Promote Exclusive Breastfeeding Through Antenatal Counseling and Structured Follow-Up Until 6 Months: A Tertiary Hospital Based and Community Follow-Up Study

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To evaluate the impact of a structured quality improvement intervention featuring antenatal counseling and scheduled postpartum follow-up on exclusive breastfeeding rates up to 6 months.
Implemented a Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) quality improvement framework at a tertiary care hospital enrolling 70 antenatal mothers at ≥ 34 weeks gestation.
Provided structured breastfeeding counseling followed by telephonic and clinic postpartum check-ins at birth, postnatal days 3/5 and 7, 6 weeks, 10 weeks, 14 weeks, and 6 months.
Out of 70 enrolled mothers, 64 completed the 6-month follow-up, achieving an exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) rate of 81.5% (52/64) compared to the baseline rate of 58.8% (absolute increase of 22.7%).
Recorded EBF rates were 100% (64/64) at birth, 80.0% (51/64) at day 3/5, 90.8% (58/64) at day 7, 92.3% (59/64) at weeks 6 and 10, 86.2% (55/64) at week 14, and 81.5% (52/64) at 6 months.
Identified two key attrition phases in breastfeeding continuation: early postpartum (days 3 to 5) and late infancy (after 10 weeks).

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Implication

Quality improvement initiative demonstrates increased exclusive breastfeeding rates in postpartum mothers, indicating the benefit of structured follow-up.

Cite This Study

Kothawade et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a9fd81458e84d0ff5b474a6 https://doi.org/10.1177/08903344261467238

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Implication

Quality improvement initiative demonstrates increased exclusive breastfeeding rates in postpartum mothers, indicating the benefit of structured follow-up.

Quality Improvement Initiative to Promote Exclusive Breastfeeding Through Antenatal Counseling and Structured Follow-Up Until 6 Months: A Tertiary Hospital Based and Community Follow-Up Study

Key Points

Discussion

Implication

Cite This Study

Quality Improvement Initiative to Promote Exclusive Breastfeeding Through Antenatal Counseling and Structured Follow-Up Until 6 Months: A Tertiary Hospital Based and Community Follow-Up Study

Key Points

Discussion

Implication

Cite This Study

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