Possibilidades e limites para a realização da promoção e apoio remoto em aleitamento materno em Angola

Abstract

Introduction: the benefits of breastfeeding for maternal and child health are well documented. In recent decades, with increased access for the population, remote access technologies have become important allies in promoting and supporting this practice. Objectives: to describe the possibilities and limitations for carrying out remote breastfeeding promotion and support in Angola; to discuss the possibility of network cooperation to promote and support breastfeeding using remote access technologies; to propose strategies for promoting and supporting breastfeeding in a network, using remote access technologies in Angola. Method: a qualitative study, based on the PRECEDE-PROCEED model, where the stages of social assessment and epidemiological assessment were developed. The setting was the territory of Angola. The population consisted of 10 key people working in breastfeeding, identified through the snowball sampling technique. Exclusion criteria included having less than six months of experience in the area of breastfeeding and having a conflict of interest regarding the topic. Data collection was carried out using primary data sources and semi-structured interviews, analyzed based on literature on the subject and thematic analysis. Results: participants mentioned possibilities for promoting and supporting breastfeeding through remote access technologies in Angola, especially through the use of telephones and radio. The telephone was seen as a tool for making calls and maintaining relationships, mainly in healthcare. Radio was cited as one of the most easily accessible means of communication for Angolans, both in terms of purchase and the greater availability of signal transmission points. The high cost of data packages and the low distribution of internet signal were limitations cited by participants for remote support. Conclusions: the findings of this research highlighted possibilities for forming partnerships to implement actions to promote and support breastfeeding remotely in Angola, based on the technologies described by the interviewees that are already used in the country, such as the telephone and radio, and, to a lesser extent, the internet network.