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Table 2 Outcomes for the Philani MOVIE trial

From: The Philani MOVIE study: a cluster-randomized controlled trial of a mobile video entertainment-education intervention to promote exclusive breastfeeding in South Africa

Outcome Label

Outcome Definition

Method of Measurement

A. Primary outcome

 1. Short-term exclusive breastfeeding (24-h recall)

Infant, age 1 month, was exclusively breastfed in the past 24 h

These outcomes will be measured by tablet-based surveys, adapted from the South Africa Demographic and Health Survey 2016 [7] and following the most recent WHO indicators for infant feeding practices [64]. A point-in-time or current status measurement (based on 24-h recall) is presently the most common method for measuring exclusive breastfeeding [65]. Responses to initial tablet-based surveys administered at 1 and 5 months will be verified by follow-up phone surveys, conducted by an independent, vetted phone survey research company, within one week of the initial data collection timepoint. Life-long (since birth recall) data on exclusive breastfeeding, will also be collected and verified by phone survey. Reporting indicators based on both point-in-time and life-long data has been recommended as a stronger approach than either of these in isolation [65].

 2. Long-term exclusive breastfeeding (24-h recall)

Infant, age 5 months, was exclusively breastfed in the past 24 h

B. Secondary outcomes

 1. Short-term exclusive breastfeeding (since birth recall)

Infant, age 1 month, has been exclusively breastfed since birth

 2. Long-term exclusive breastfeeding (since birth recall)

Infant, age 5 months, has been exclusively breastfed since birth

 3. Early initiation of breastfeeding

Infant was breastfed within the first hour of life (based on recall at 1 month)

This outcome will be measured in the 1 month tablet-based survey and verified by phone survey within one week of the initial data collection timepoint.

 4. Any breastfeeding at 1 month

Infant, age 1 month, received any breastmilk in the past 24 h, even if not exclusively breastfed

These outcomes will be measured by tablet-based surveys at 1 month and 5 months, adapted from the South Africa Demographic and Health Survey 2016 [7] and following the most recent WHO indicators for infant feeding practices [64]. Responses to tablet-based surveys will be verified by follow-up phone surveys, conducted by an independent, vetted phone survey research company, within one week of the initial data collection timepoint.

 5. Any breastfeeding at 5 months

Infant, age 5 months, received any breastmilk in the past 24 h, even if not exclusively breastfed

 6. Bottle-feeding

Infant, under 6 months of age, was fed using a bottle with a nipple in the past 24 h.

 7. Early introduction of complementary foods at 1 month (24-h recall)

Infant, age 1 month, has received complementary foods in the past 24 h.

These out comes will be measured by phone surveys at 1 and 5 months. Participants will respond to an infant feeding questionnaire, incorporating both point-in-time and life-long data, adapted from previously published infant feeding measurement tools [82,83,84,85] and informed by the WHO indicators for infant feeding practices [64].

 8. Early introduction of complementary foods at 5 months (24-h recall)

Infant, age 5 months, has received complementary foods in the past 24 h.

 9. Early introduction of complementary foods at 1 month (since birth recall)

Infant, age 1 month, has received complementary foods at some point since birth.

 10. Early introduction of complementary foods at 5 months (since birth recall)

Infant, age 5 months, has received complementary foods at some point since birth.

 11. Maternal knowledge at 1 month post-delivery

Maternal knowledge of breastfeeding current recommendations and basic health principles relevant to infant feeding measured at 1 month post-delivery.

These outcomes will be measured by phone survey questionnaires on maternal knowledge about breastfeeding (developed by study team, adapted from previously published breastfeeding knowledge assessment tools [59, 86, 87]).

 12. Maternal knowledge at 5 months post-delivery

Maternal knowledge of breastfeeding current recommendations and basic health principles relevant to infant feeding measured at 5 months post-delivery.