Background: Evidence has shown that SMS text message-based health education is effective in improving exclusive breastfeeding. However, there is limited evidence on the development and design of SMS messaging intervention targeting fathers and mothers.
Method: This is the formative assessment and intervention design for a larger trial targeting both fathers and mothers for breastfeeding support in Tigray, Ethiopia. A total of 42 parents of children less than 2 years of age were involved in the design process that also included nutrition experts. We recruited 128 expectant couples to the intervention (1-month antenatally) who continued for 3 months postnatally.
Results: Sixteen messages were developed specific to feeding in the antenatal and postnatal periods. These messages were revised with parents and experts and pretested with parents. Over 4 months 87% of fathers and mothers received 3 or more SMS text messages. All fathers and 97% of mothers read the weekly SMS text messages. Almost 90% of mothers and fathers indicated their willingness to continue to receive SMS text messages related to infant feeding.
Conclusion: Development of SMS based breastfeeding interventions should involve the target population in content design. The role of experts and target population in the co-design process is also crucial.
Keywords: Breastfeeding; Co-design; Low-income; Parents; eHealth; mHealth.
© 2023. The Author(s).