Linking Microcredit, Technology, and Promotion of IYCF Breastfeeding Guidelines in Bauchi State, Nigeria

Linking Microcredit, Technology, and Promotion of IYCF Breastfeeding Guidelines in Bauchi State, Nigeria

The University of North Carolina (UNC) and Partners for Development (PFD), an American non-governmental organization, will conduct a 2-year cluster-randomized controlled trial in Bauchi State, Nigeria, to test the effectiveness of two behavior change strategies for increasing the proportion of participants who exclusively breastfeed their infants until 6 months. The investigators will build upon PFD's existing microcredit and reproductive health program by adding face-to-face breastfeeding education during borrowers' meetings and bi-weekly cell phone breastfeeding messages. The hypothesis is that the control group will remain at the baseline level for exclusive breastfeeding to 6 months, while the intervention group will increase by 15%. The investigators will measure the effectiveness of the intervention by conducting baseline and final surveys with a cohort of 485 female borrowers who are pregnant at time 1 and who have a 6-month-old infant at time 2. The data will be analyzed using logistic regression adjusting for possible confounders and the effect of clustering.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Participation in a microcredit borrower group sponsored by Partners for Development in Bauchi, Dass, or Ganjuwa Local Government Authority in Bauchi State, Nigeria
• Female (15-45 years)
• Pregnant at baseline

Exclusion Criteria:

• Female (<15 years)
• Not pregnant