Social Transfers for Exclusive Breastfeeding

Social Transfers for Exclusive Breastfeeding: A Pilot Program in Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR)

The goal of this study is to assess the effectiveness of social transfers on exclusive breastfeeding rates in Lao PDR. The main questions it aims to answer are:

1. Are social transfers effective at increasing exclusive breastfeeding rates at 6-months
2. Are social transfers cost-effective
3. What are the long-term impacts of social transfers for breastfeeding on child development

Participants will be randomly assigned to one of three groups: 1) control, no social transfer 2) non-conditional social transfer at 6-months postpartum, and 3) conditional social transfer at six months postpartum; conditional upon the mothers exclusive breastfeeding status.

All participants receive education about the benefits of exclusive breastfeeding and current international recommendations.

Researchers will compare the intervention groups to the control group to see if social transfers are effective at increasing exclusive breastfeeding rates at six months postpartum.

Inclusion criteria:

• Given birth in the last four weeks
• Exclusively breastfeeding at time of recruitment
• Lives in Vientiane in one of the following districts: Chanthabury, Sikhottabong, Sangthong, or Parkngum and is included in the VITERBI cohort

Exclusion criteria:

• Plans to move permanently outside study area
• Has a medical, intellectual or psychological disability
• Contraindication for breastfeeding
• Preterm births
• Children born with < 2500 grams