1.Influence of Infant Massage Practice on Breastfeeding Among Mothers In Sarawak
Chan Kim Geok ; Saloma Pawi ; Shalin Lee Wan Fei ; Helmy Hazmi ; Ooi Chor Yau ; Zurraini Arabi ; Chen Yoke Yong
Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences 2021;17(No.4):218-227
Introduction: Practice of infant massage by mothers has been reported previously to provide benefits such as nurturing touch, warmth and relaxation to infants and a more positive breastfeeding practice due to its stimulant for oxytocin release. This study aimed to determine the influence of infant massage by mothers on their breastfeeding practice
in the local context. Methods: A quasi-experimental study was conducted among 310 mother-infant pairs who were
recruited from five selected health centres within First Division of Sarawak. Intervention group participants (n=155)
were taught to do infant-massage during the clinic session and instructed to practice 15 minutes twice daily throughout the two-months intervention period, while the control group (n=155) were not. Breastfeeding practice data were
obtained using questionnaire from both groups pre-intervention at infants’ age one-month and post-intervention at
age three-months. Results: Multinomial regression analysis showed that those in the intervention group were two
times more likely than the control group for exclusive breastfeeding when compared to mothers who stopped breastfeeding (RR=2.022, 95% CI=1.007, 4.071; p-value=0.048). Similarly, mothers from the intervention group were two
and half times more likely than control group for mixed feeding (RR=2.560, 95% CI=1.280, 5.121; p-value=0.008).
Those who were housewives were nearly three times more likely than the private workers for exclusive breastfeeding
(RR=2.734, 95% CI=1.246, 5.997; p-value=0.012). Conclusion: Infant massage influenced breastfeeding practice
positively at infants’ age three-months, in particular, among mothers who were housewives. Healthcare providers
should encourage infant massage practice by mothers as part of the maternal and child healthcare service.