A novel peer-support intervention using motivational interviewing for breastfeeding maintenance: a UK feasibility study

Although most UK mothers start breastfeeding, fewer than half breastfeed exclusively for more than 1 week and only one in 100 breastfeed for > 6 months. Most stop breastfeeding before they had planned to. We wanted to see if it was possible to help women breastfeed for longer by using buddies trained in motivational interviewing. This is a form of counselling that motivates people to change their behaviour by exploring their thoughts and worries and helping them to set their own goals. The intervention we studied was called Mam-Kind. Mam-Kind buddies met mothers before their babies were born and provided support for 2 weeks afterwards. Before we embark on an expensive randomised trial of Mam-Kind, we wanted to see if it was acceptable to women and feasible to deliver. Eight buddies delivered Mam-Kind to 70 women from three areas with high levels of social deprivation and teenage pregnancy and low rates of breastfeeding. We interviewed mothers, buddies and health-care professionals to get their views. We found that Mam-Kind was acceptable and feasible to deliver. Mothers reported that buddies provided reassurance, were non-judgemental and were easily contactable. The buddies reported that it was sometimes difficult to use their motivational skills while providing breastfeeding support. It is feasible to design and collect appropriate health economic information. We used this information to refine the training and content of the intervention. The refined Mam-Kind intervention should now be tested in a controlled study to see if it really works to help women continue breastfeeding for longer

Label Adhesives with Enhanced Humidity Resistance

The main topic of the thesis was to examine the hydrophobicity of labeling adhesives in the state before drying, it means their resistance against condensated moisture. The problem was solved by measuremensts of contact angle between the drop of water and glue. Measurements of dynamic viscosity and wet tack were also performed for the sake of complex characterization of the glue properties. Comparison of properties among single-component adhesives based on the acrylic copolymers alkalised with various agents was made. The impact of starches and industrial additives on glues was determined by the analysis of primary physical and chemical parameters. The purpose of the measurements was to develop a formula of the glue with enhanced atmospheric moisture resistance, that also would have the required parameters in the equilibrium. Finally, some selected glue samples were practically tested for condensation water resistance. These tests were performed in a climatic chamber with water condensating conditions