Enhancing Breastfeeding – Home-Based Education on Self-Efficacy: A Preventive Strategy
Katayon Vakilian, OmeColsum Tabarte Farahani, Tooba Heidari
Abstract
Background: The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of home-based education intervention on the exclusivity and promoting the rates of self-efficacy of breastfeeding. Materials and Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted Arak University of Medical Sciences in Takeghani Hospital in Iran between June 2015 and October 2015. A total of 130 eligible and voluntary women hospitalized in Arak University of Medical Sciences Hospital postpartum wards were randomized to receive usual care ( n = 65) or education with CD and pamphlets ( n = 65). Data regarding exclusive breastfeeding were collected using Denis and Fox's breastfeeding self-efficacy questionnaire. The primary outcome was collected by one assistant researcher during first postpartum visit. The secondary outcome was collected 4 weeks after birth of babies by telephone interviews. Data analysis was performed using descriptive (frequency, mean), independent samples t -test, Student's t -test, t 2 -test, and Chi-square test. All values of P < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results: There was no significant differences between the intervention and control groups with regard to age ( P = 0.086) and gestational age ( P = 0.741). The breastfeeding self-efficacy scores were higher in the intervention group (63.66 ± 6.11) than in the control group (57.04 ± 6.18) after 1 month of childbirth ( P = 0.001). The exclusive breastfeeding rate in intervention group was 89.2 ( n = 58) at 1 st month after education compared with 55.4% ( n = 36) in control group ( P = 0.001). Conclusions: In a setting, a high breastfeeding rate and self-efficacy scores were found in education group. Therefore, nurses and midwives are thus required to adopt various health education strategies, such as home education, encourage breastfeeding.