Education of Parents in Increasing Breastfeeding Rates, Success, and Self-Efficacy Levels

INTRODUCTION: Aim: This study aims to determine the effect of breastfeeding education given to parents in the early postpartum period on the duration of exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months, breastfeeding success and breastfeeding self-efficacy levels of mothers.

METHODS: Materals and Methods: Study has three groups including control (n = 49), Intervention I (n = 48) and Intervention II groups (n = 48). As a nursing intervention, breastfeeding training using pre-structured training modules was given to the mothers only in Intervention Group 1 and to the mothers and fathers in Intervention Group 2. Routine nursing services were provided to the families in the control group. The infant feeding behaviors of the mothers in all three groups were monitored until the end of the sixth month. The parental introductory information form, infant follow-up form, LATCH Diagnosis and Evaluation Scale and Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale were used to collect the data.
RESULTS: Results: It was determined that breastfeeding training given to mothers increased breastfeeding self-efficacy levels and breastfeeding success and this increase was statistically significant (p <0.05). It was determined that the difference between the SNS feeding rates between the three groups at the 1st, 2nd, 4th and 6th months was significantly higher than the control group (p <0.05).
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Conclusions: Breastfeeding training increased the mothers’ breastfeeding self-efficacy and duration of exclusive breastfeeding, but fathers’ support made no significant difference.