Prolonged Exclusive Breastfeeding Through Peer Support: A Cohort Study From a Community Outreach Project in Swaziland

Swaziland faces great public health challenges, including suboptimal breastfeeding practices and the world’s highest prevalence of HIV. The objective of this study was to estimate neonatal and infant mortality rate and rate of exclusive breastfeeding for clients enrolled in a community-based peer support project in peri-urban areas of Swaziland. The intervention builds on the so called “Philani-model” with Mentor Mothers in the community under high level of supervision. Cohort data was collected from journals kept by the Mentor Mothers. Kaplan–Meier and Cox regression were used to analyse data. Neonatal and infant mortality were estimated to 15 respectively 57 per 1000 live births. High level of social vulnerability was associated with risk of neonatal mortality (HR 1.12, CI 95 % 1.01–1.24) while the mother’s positive HIV status was associated with infant mortality (HR 2.05, CI 95 % 1.15–3.65). More visits by a Mentor Mother could not be shown to result in lower mortality. The chance to practice exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months was estimated to 50 %. The risk of discontinuing exclusive breastfeeding before 6 months was lower for mothers being unemployed (HR 0.55, CI 95 % 0.44–0.69) or socially vulnerable (HR 0.95, CI 95 % 0.92–0.99) and higher for mothers being HIV positive (HR 1.22, CI 95 % 1.01–1.48). Receiving at least four visits by a Mentor Mother during pregnancy decreased the risk of discontinuing exclusive breastfeeding prematurely (HR 0.82, CI 95 % 0.67–0.99). Peer support with Mentor Mothers thus had a positive impact on exclusive breastfeeding rates in this disadvantaged population.