Trial reportPloS one2021
Feasibility of using WeChat to improve infant and young child feeding in rural areas in China: A mixed quantitative and qualitative study.
Trial report in PloS one, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 10 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
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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.
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.
Who cites it
10 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 22 citations in OpenAlex.
- Exploring characteristics and common features of digital health in pediatric care in developing countries: a systematic review.Frontiers in digital health · 2025Pooled it
- Mobile applications for promoting and supporting breastfeeding: Systematic review and meta-analysis.Maternal & child nutrition · 2025Pooled it
- Effects of Digital Mindfulness Training for Couples on Psychological Distress and Infant Neuropsychological Development: Randomized Controlled Trial.Journal of medical Internet research · 2025Trial
- Effectiveness of Digital Guided Self-help Mindfulness Training During Pregnancy on Maternal Psychological Distress and Infant Neuropsychological Development: Randomized Controlled Trial.Journal of medical Internet research · 2023Trial
- Urban and Rural Disparities in a WeChat-Based Smoking Cessation Intervention among Chinese Smokers.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2021Trial
- Experiential Classes Plus Digital Logging in Antenatal Care for Pregnant Women in China: Mixed Methods Study.Journal of participatory medicine · 2026Article
- A Qualitative Study on Pregnant Women's Perceptions and Needs for Developing a WeChat Mini-Program for Physical Activity Management During Pregnancy.International journal of women's health · 2026Article
- Complementary feeding and caregiver sleep: findings from a representative survey in Chongqing, China.Frontiers in nutrition · 2025Article
- Effects of a Social Media-Based Mind-Body Intervention Embedded With Acupressure and Mindfulness for Stress Reduction Among Family Caregivers of Frail Older Adults: Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.JMIR formative research · 2023Article
- Evaluation of Social Platform-Based Continuity of Care in Improving Cognitive and Prognostic Effects of Young Patients with Diabetic Retinopathy.Diabetes, metabolic syndrome and obesity : targets and therapy · 2023Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
6 authors at 2 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundAppropriate infant and young child feeding practices are the basis for child nutrition. In China, WeChat is gradually changing the channels through which people receive information. The paper aims to explore the feasibility of using WeChat to improve infant and young child feeding in rural China.
methodsA mixed-methods study was carried out in Huzhu County, Qinghai province, China. We conducted two cross-sectional surveys with children aged 6-23 months and their caregivers in 2012 (N = 1804) and 2018 (N = 754), respectively. Quantitative data were collected on feeding knowledge and practices, caregiver's use of smartphones and WeChat. Qualitative data were from 33 semi-structured interviews with pregnant women and mothers. In addition, we developed a WeChat feeding health education platform and asked women about their experiences with using it.
resultsIn both cross-sectional surveys, less than 10% of caregivers knew that breastfeeding can be continued up to two years, less than 50% knew the accurate duration of exclusive breastfeeding, and only around 20% knew meat can be given to children from the age of 6-8 months. Similarly, the feeding practices were suboptimal and most key infant feeding practices did not change over the years. Only around 30% of caregivers ever received feeding information during pregnancy or after delivery in both surveys. Around 50% of caregivers received information from their relatives and friends, followed by 30% from health facilities and communities. More than 80% of mothers were currently using both a smartphone and the WeChat app, and 75.4% of them were willing to receive feeding information from WeChat official accounts. The WeChat feeding health education platform developed by our study team was generally well accepted by women.
conclusionsThere was an absence of accurate information sources on infant feeding and child nutrition. WeChat could be a potential way to deliver infant feeding recommendations to pregnant women and mothers in rural China.
trial registrationChiCTR-PRC-11001446 (The controlled intervention trial for complementary food supplements "Yingyangbao"); ChiCTR1800017364 (the randomized controlled trial for WeChat).
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Registered trials
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 OpenQuestion graph.