Abstract
Objective. This study aimed to determine the effect of educational program on Breastfeeding self-efficacy and duration of exclusive breastfeeding in pregnant women in Ahvaz, Iran. Methods. This randomized controlled trial was conducted on 120 nulliparous pregnant women who tended to breastfeed. The primary self-efficacy scores of samples were measured using Faux and Dennis breastfeeding self-efficacy questionnaire. Women were randomly recruited into two intervention and control groups. Educational program (two training sessions, each lasted two hours) with two days interval was performed for intervention group. One month after delivery, self-efficacy scores were determined. Six months after child birth, duration of exclusive breastfeeding was assessed. Data were analyzed by means of descriptive and inferential statistics. Findings. The breastfeeding self-efficacy in the intervention group increased significantly compared to the control group one month after delivery (123.6 versus 101.7, P < 0.001). The duration of exclusive breastfeeding was significantly higher in the intervention group (5.03 mo versus 2.7 mo, P < 0.001). Also, there was a significant relationship between breastfeeding self-efficacy and duration of exclusive breastfeeding (P < 0.001). Conclusion. The educational program could increase the self-efficacy and exclusive breastfeeding duration of mothers. These results can draw the attention of authorities to the importance of educational programs for mothers regarding the exclusive breastfeeding.
Highlights
Breastfeeding is one of the most important ways to improve the children health and a basic strategy in providing the child growth and survival
In 2002 a systematic review on exclusive breastfeeding showed that infants who breastfed for 4 months had more morbidity and mortality than those with 6 months [4]
Two subjects in the intervention group before the first training sessions and three subjects after the end of training sessions changed their mind not to participate in the study
Summary
Breastfeeding is one of the most important ways to improve the children health and a basic strategy in providing the child growth and survival. The global recommendation of World Health Organization (WHO) before 2001 was exclusive breastfeeding between 4 and 6 months after birth [3]. In 2002 a systematic review on exclusive breastfeeding showed that infants who breastfed for 4 months had more morbidity and mortality than those with 6 months [4]. The WHO recommended exclusive breastfeeding until 6 months after birth [5]. A study on 63,071 infants with age less than 24 months in 30 provinces in Iran showed that exclusive breastfeeding at 4 and 6 months after birth was 56.8% and 27.7%, respectively [6]. Another study in Omidieh, Iran, on 400 infants with age 6–18 months showed that the prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding was 61.6% [7].
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