Breastfeeding Education Tool for Babies
Official title: Breastfeeding Education Support Tool for Baby
Funded at Thomas Jefferson University · NIH-11378449 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A program in India uses peer counselors and a mobile app to help new mothers breastfeed exclusively for 6 months and support their babies’ growth and development.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Thomas Jefferson University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $217,311 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HD112492-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11378449 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are pregnant women in Karnataka, India, and their infants up to 6 months old who are willing to participate in a community-based education and follow-up program.
✕Less likely to help
Some families may receive standard care without enhanced support and may see no additional benefit.
What this research studies
This project tests a breastfeeding education and support tool (BEST4Baby) delivered by trained community peer counselors, plus an accompanying mobile app, to promote exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months. The study will compare usual care to the BEST4Baby program across four sites in Karnataka, India, using a cluster randomized design. Participants are pregnant women who will receive in-person visits during pregnancy and after birth, with follow-up to monitor feeding, growth, and neurodevelopment of infants. The results will inform how well this approach works in real-world community settings and how easily it can be implemented in routine care.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could improve exclusive breastfeeding rates and support healthier growth and development for babies.
How similar studies have gone: Previous trials of peer-counselor support and mHealth tools have shown promise in improving breastfeeding practices in similar settings.
Where this research is happening
-
Thomas Jefferson University
Philadelphia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Short, Vanessa L — Thomas Jefferson University
- Study coordinator: Short, Vanessa L
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.