Use of and Attitudes About Telelactation Services Among New Parents

Lori Uscher-Pines, Kandice A. Kapinos, Ateev Mehrotra, Jill R. Demirci, Kristin Ray, Gabriela Alvarado, Maria DeYoreo

ResearchPosted on rand.org Jun 14, 2024Published in: Telemedicine and e-Health, Volume 29, No. 4, pages 607-611 (April 2023). DOI: 10.1089/tmj.2022.0159

Background

We conducted a national, cross-sectional survey among new parents to explore use and acceptability of telelactation.

Methods

Recruitment occurred between October 2021 and January 2022 on Ovia's parenting mobile phone application. Poststratification survey weights were used, and logistic and linear regression models estimated associations between demographics and telelactation use. Results: Among 1,617 respondents, 33.8% had at least one telelactation visit. Odds of any telelactation visit(s) were greater for parents who gave birth in 2021 versus 2019 (odds ratio [OR]: 1.69, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.26-2.25), insured by Medicaid (OR: 1.43, 95% CI: 1.02-2.02), and younger parents (OR: 2.07, 95% CI: 1.32-3.34). In total, 56.0% agreed that they would be comfortable breastfeeding over video to get help, and 27.6% agreed that lactation support over video is as good as in-person support.

Conclusions

Telelactation is increasingly common and acceptable to many parents.

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Document Details

  • Copyright: Mary Ann Liebert, Inc
  • Availability: Non-RAND
  • Year: 2023
  • Pages: 5
  • Document Number: EP-70499

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