Postpartum depressive symptoms following implementation of the 10 steps to successful breastfeeding program in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo: A cohort study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Social support and relevant skills training can reduce the risk of postpartum depression (PPD) by reducing the impact of stressors. The 10-step program to encourage exclusive breastfeeding that forms the basis of the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) provides both, suggesting it may lessen depressive symptoms directly or by reducing difficulties associated with infant feeding. Our objective was to quantify the association of implementing Steps 1-9 or Steps 1-10 on postpartum depressive symptoms and test whether this association was mediated by breastfeeding difficulties.

Methods and findings

We used data from a breastfeeding promotion trial of all women who gave birth to a healthy singleton between May 24 and August 25, 2012 in 1 of the 6 facilities compari

SUBMITTER: Agler RA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7799755 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature