The prevalence of early initiation of breastfeeding and exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) at 6 months remain low in the Philippines. To help meet the 90% early initiation of breastfeeding target and to improve infant and young child feeding practices in the Philippines, the Millennium Development Goals - Fund 2030 Joint Programme (JP) on Ensuring Food Security and Nutrition for Children 0–24 months old was implemented. We aimed to determine the effectiveness of visits by peer counselors during pregnancy and after delivery, and membership in breastfeeding support groups in promoting these optimal breastfeeding practices. We used data from the Endline Survey of the JP to study the effects of prenatal and postnatal peer counselor visits, and membership in breastfeeding support groups, and their possible interactions with initiation of breastfeeding within 1 hour of birth among children aged 0 to 24 months and EBF at 6 months among children aged 6 to 24 months, while adjusting for confounding. We used logistic regression methods for survey data to assess these associations. Of the 2343 mother-infant pairs, only 1500 (63.1%) practiced early initiation of breastfeeding. Of the 1865 children aged 6 months or older, only 621 (34.7%) were exclusively breastfed at 6 months. After adjusting for confounding variables, there was no strong evidence that peer counselor visits were associated with early initiation or EBF at 6 months. However, members of breastfeeding support groups had 1.49 times higher odds of early initiation of breastfeeding (95% CI [Confidence Interval] 1.12, 1.98) and 1.65 times higher odds of EBF (95% CI 1.20, 2.24) compared to those who were not members of breastfeeding support groups. There was no interaction between the different exposure variables and early initiation and EBF at 6 months. Our findings suggest breastfeeding support groups may be institutionalized to promote both early initiation of breastfeeding and EBF in the Philippines, while the role of peer counselors in promoting optimal breastfeeding behaviors should be further reviewed. Our suggestion to integrate non-healthcare professionals to promote early initiation of breastfeeding and EBF could be tested in future intervention studies.

中文翻译：

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同伴咨询和母乳喂养支持小组成员资格在促进菲律宾最佳母乳喂养行为方面的有效性

在菲律宾，6 个月时早期开始母乳喂养和纯母乳喂养 (EBF) 的流行率仍然很低。为帮助实现 90% 早期开始母乳喂养的目标并改善菲律宾的婴幼儿喂养做法，千年发展目标 - 确保 0-24 个月大儿童的粮食安全和营养的 2030 年联合计划 (JP)实施的。我们旨在确定同伴顾问在怀孕期间和分娩后的访问的有效性，以及母乳喂养支持小组的成员身份，以促进这些最佳母乳喂养实践。我们使用来自 JP 的 Endline Survey 的数据来研究产前和产后同伴顾问访问的影响，以及母乳喂养支持小组的成员资格，以及它们与 0 至 24 个月儿童在出生后 1 小时内开始母乳喂养和 6 至 24 个月儿童在 6 个月时开始母乳喂养的可能相互作用，同时调整混杂因素。我们对调查数据使用逻辑回归方法来评估这些关联。在 2343 对母婴中，只有 1500 对（63.1%）进行了早期母乳喂养。在 1865 名 6 个月或以上的儿童中，只有 621 名 (34.7%) 在 6 个月时纯母乳喂养。在对混杂变量进行调整后，没有强有力的证据表明同伴顾问访问与 6 个月时的早期开始或 EBF 相关。然而，母乳喂养支持小组的成员早期开始母乳喂养的几率高 1.49 倍（95% CI [置信区间] 1.12, 1.98），EBF 几率高 1.65 倍（95% CI 1.20, 2。24) 与那些不是母乳喂养支持小组成员的人相比。不同的暴露变量与早期开始和 6 个月时的 EBF 之间没有相互作用。我们的研究结果表明，母乳喂养支持小组可能会被制度化，以促进菲律宾的早期母乳喂养和 EBF，而应进一步审查同伴顾问在促进最佳母乳喂养行为方面的作用。我们关于整合非医疗保健专业人员以促进早期开始母乳喂养和 EBF 的建议可以在未来的干预研究中得到检验。我们的研究结果表明，母乳喂养支持小组可能会被制度化，以促进菲律宾的早期母乳喂养和 EBF，而应进一步审查同伴顾问在促进最佳母乳喂养行为方面的作用。我们关于整合非医疗保健专业人员以促进早期开始母乳喂养和 EBF 的建议可以在未来的干预研究中得到检验。我们的研究结果表明，母乳喂养支持小组可能会被制度化，以促进菲律宾的早期母乳喂养和 EBF，而应进一步审查同伴顾问在促进最佳母乳喂养行为方面的作用。我们关于整合非医疗保健专业人员以促进早期开始母乳喂养和 EBF 的建议可以在未来的干预研究中得到检验。