The Library
The process of establishing implementing and maintaining a social support infant feeding programme
Tools
Watt, R. G., McGlone, P, Russell, J. J., Tull, K. I. and Dowler, Elizabeth (2006) The process of establishing implementing and maintaining a social support infant feeding programme. Public Health Nutrition, Vol.9 (No.6). pp. 714-721. doi:10.1079/PHN2005901 ISSN 1368-9800.
|
PDF
WRAP_Dowler_Process_Establishing_Infant.pdf - Requires a PDF viewer. Download (153Kb) |
Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1079/PHN2005901
Abstract
Objective To describe the process of establishing and implementing a social support infant feeding intervention.
Design This paper outlines the initial stages of a randomised controlled trial which assessed the effectiveness of a social support intervention on a range of infant feeding outcomes. Details are presented of the processes involved in recruiting, training and supporting a group of volunteers who provided support to the study sample.
Setting Camden and Islington, London, UK.
Results Initial networking with local agencies and organisations provided invaluable information and contacts. Employing a dedicated volunteer co-ordinator is vitally important in the recruitment, training and support of volunteers. Providing child care and travel expenses is an essential incentive for volunteers with young children. Advertisements placed in local newspapers were the most successful means of recruiting volunteers. Appropriate training is needed to equip volunteers with the necessary knowledge and skills to provide effective support. Particular emphasis in the training focused upon developing the necessary interpersonal skills and self-confidence. The evaluation of the training programme demonstrated that it improved volunteers’ knowledge and reported confidence. The provision of ongoing support is also essential to maintain volunteers’ interest and enthusiasm. The retention of volunteers is, however, a key challenge.
Conclusions The processes outlined in this paper have demonstrated the feasibility of successfully establishing, implementing and maintaining a community-based social support infant feeding programme. The experiences described provide useful insights into the practical issues that need to be addressed in setting up a social support intervention.
Item Type: | Journal Article | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Subjects: | R Medicine > RJ Pediatrics R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine |
||||
Divisions: | Faculty of Social Sciences > Sociology | ||||
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH): | Infants -- Nutrition, Infants -- Health and hygiene, Social networks -- Research, Parenting -- Study and teaching -- Great Britain, Breastfeeding promotion -- Great Britain | ||||
Journal or Publication Title: | Public Health Nutrition | ||||
Publisher: | Cambridge University Press | ||||
ISSN: | 1368-9800 | ||||
Official Date: | September 2006 | ||||
Dates: |
|
||||
Volume: | Vol.9 | ||||
Number: | No.6 | ||||
Page Range: | pp. 714-721 | ||||
DOI: | 10.1079/PHN2005901 | ||||
Status: | Peer Reviewed | ||||
Access rights to Published version: | Open Access (Creative Commons) | ||||
Funder: | Great Britain. Food Standards Agency (FSA) |
Data sourced from Thomson Reuters' Web of Knowledge
Request changes or add full text files to a record
Repository staff actions (login required)
View Item |
Downloads
Downloads per month over past year