Objective: To investigate the effects of delivering infant feeding knowledge using text messages from cell phones on improving infant growth and anemia.
Methods: A community-based intervention study was conducted in four community health centers in Tumoteyou County, Baotou, Inner Mongolia, one of which was the intervention group and the other three locating nearby were assigned into the control group. Pregnant women were recruited from peri-natal care center. In the intervention group, infant feeding knowledge was sent by the staff of health care center using text messages to the subjects. Meanwhile, no intervention was given in the control group. The growth status and anemia prevalence were assessed at 6 month in both groups. The WHO growth standard for children under 5 years was used to assess the growth status, using the Anthro software v3. 2. 2 to calculate Z scores. Anemia was defined as the concentration of hemoglobin less than 110 g/L. Hemoglobin was measured in duplicate by Hemocue 301 instrument.
Results: Totally 214 pregnant women were recruited at the baseline. At the 6 months of postpartum, 192 mothers and infants were investigated. The percentage of lost follow-up was 10.3%. The LAZ, HCZ and hemoglobin concentration of infants were significantly greater,in'the intervention group than in the control group at 6 month old (P < 0.01). The prevalence of stunting (P < 0.01), overweight and obesity (P = 0.02), and anemia (P < 0.01) were significantly lower in the intervention group.
Conclusions: Using text messages from cell phones to deliver infant feeding knowledge may improve the growth and anemia status of infants aged 6 month.