Alive and Thrive Implementation Research Project

The Alive and Thrive Implementation Research (IR) Project, managed by FHI 360 and conducted by Equitable Health Access Initiative (EHAI), took place from February 2019 to June 2020 in Lagos State, Nigeria. The project aimed to implement a private sector model of Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) counseling, focusing on enhancing Exclusive Breastfeeding (EBF) and Early Initiation of Breastfeeding (EIBF) practices in 10 private health facilities.

Target

The project primarily targeted pregnant women and mothers with children aged 0-6 months who utilized private healthcare services in Lagos State. It also extended its reach to fathers and other influential family members such as grandmothers and mothers-in-law, providing them with tailored messages to support breastfeeding practices.

Objectives

The project had several key objectives:

1. Capacity Building: Train 100% of healthcare workers in antenatal care, delivery, immunization, and pediatric outpatient departments to deliver high-quality EIBF and EBF counseling services based on WHO’s Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) guidelines.
2. Maternal Engagement: Reach 80% of pregnant women and mothers of children 0-6 months with high-quality knowledge and skills on EIBF and EBF.
3. Mobile Messaging: Deliver high-quality phone messages to 80% of pregnant women and mothers, providing guidance on the benefits and practice of EIBF and EBF.
4. Family Support: Engage 60% of fathers, grandmothers, and mothers-in-law with informative messages on how to support breastfeeding practices.

By June 2020, the project had successfully integrated breastfeeding support services within the 10 selected private health facilities. This initiative contributed to global health efforts by promoting breastfeeding practices, which align with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2 and 3—ending hunger and ensuring healthy lives for all.

The Alive and Thrive IR Project demonstrated the feasibility of implementing standardized IYCF counseling in urban private healthcare settings, ultimately improving breastfeeding practices and supporting maternal and child health in Lagos State.