Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40426155›Full record

SynthesisInternational breastfeeding journal2025

Effectiveness of interventions on early initiation of breastfeeding in South Asia: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

M A Rifat, Mahashweta Chakrabarty, Syeda Saima Alam, Masum Ali, Syeda Sumaiya Nasrin, Plabon Sarkar, Aditya Singh, Sanjib Saha

Abstract readMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in International breastfeeding journal, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed, 2 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Interventions That Support Breastfeeding for Women With Gestational Diabetes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Journal of transcultural nursing : official journal of the Transcultural Nursing Society · 2026
    Pooled it
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

M A RifatDepartment of Global Public Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, 17176, Sweden. rifatahmed011@gmail.com.
Mahashweta ChakrabartyBanaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, 221005, India.
Syeda Saima AlamDepartment of Food Technology and Nutrition Science, Noakhali Science and Technology University, Noakhali, 3814, Bangladesh.
Masum AliNutrition and Health Science, Laney Graduate School, Emory University, Atlanta, 30322, USA.
Syeda Sumaiya NasrinUnited Nations Children's Fund, Cox's Bazar, 4700, Bangladesh.
Plabon SarkarCaritas Bangladesh, 2, Outer Circular Road, Shantibagh, Dhaka, 1217, Bangladesh.
Aditya SinghBanaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, 221005, India.
Sanjib SahaHealth Economics Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Lund, 22100, Sweden.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundEarly initiation of breastfeeding, defined as breastfeeding within one hour of birth, halves the risk of neonatal mortality, establishing it as a crucial outcome component in various interventions implemented across South Asian countries. However, the overall effect of these interventions remain unexamined. Therefore, this study seeks to address this knowledge gap by evaluating the overall effect of these interventions on maternal early initiation of breastfeeding practice.

methodsA systematic literature search was performed to identify randomised controlled trials conducted in South Asia focusing on early initiation of breastfeeding as an outcome variable. The interventions identified were categorized into behavioral, mobile health (mHealth), health system strengthening, and nutritional interventions. Random effects meta-analysis was conducted to estimate the pooled effect of interventions and effectiveness by intervention categories. Heterogeneity was explored by sub-group and meta-regression analyses. The risk of bias and strength of evidence were assessed by Cochrane's RoB2 assessment tool and GRADE criteria, respectively.

resultsWe included 22 articles published, representing 19 unique interventions, from a pool of 2,524 screened records for review and narrative synthesis. Among these, 19 articles were eligible for meta-analysis. The pooled relative risk (RR) of early initiation of breastfeeding among mothers in the intervention groups, as compared to their counterparts, was 1.55 (95% CI: 1.24, 1.95; I

conclusionThe overall intervention effect appeared efficacious in improving maternal early initiation of breastfeeding practice in South Asia, providing valuable insights for policymakers to develop contextually feasible strategies.

Indexed as

Breast FeedingHealth PromotionMothersAsiaAsia, SouthernFemaleHumansInfantInfant, NewbornRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicBreastfeedingBreastfeeding initiationEarly breastfeedingMeta-analysisNewborn carePerinatal careSouth Asia

Identifiers

PMID40426155
PMCPMC12117840

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.