The Effect of Technology-Based Breastfeeding Approach on Adolescent Mothers’ Breastfeeding Situation

Abstract

Adolescent pregnancy is an important health problem worldwide. This study aims to thoroughly investigate the literature to examine the effects of the technology-based breastfeeding approach on breastfeeding success in adolescent mothers. To be pregnant and to be an adolescent at the same time increase the risk of mortality and morbidity in mothers and infants. Such breastfeeding challenges as not breastfeeding or starting but not continuing breastfeeding, and negative thinking/practices on breastfeeding are more common in adolescent mothers than in adult mothers. The way education and counselling is delivered is crucial to inform and support the risky adolescent mothers for breastfeeding. Technology-based approaches has been increasing to improve the effectiveness and length of such education in recent years. Technology-based approaches include web-based programs, tablets, mobile phones, messages, and applications. Specific to individual and age-appropriate technology-based breastfeeding approaches with a multidisciplinary team could provide effective and successful breastfeeding. The integration of breastfeeding approaches with technology could increase the initiation and continuation of breastfeeding, the rates of breastfeeding of babies and nutrition information/ behaviors of mothers considering the use of technology by adolescents. Health care providers have significant roles to maintain, protect, and improve the maternal and infant health and also to prevent adolescent pregnancies. It is thought that taking into consideration the developmental characteristics of adolescent mothers, it would be beneficial the constitution of the technology-based breastfeeding programs by health care providers with the roles of caring, counseling, educating, researching, collaborating, and advocating.