The Effect of a Breastfeeding Motivation Program Maintained During Pregnancy on Supporting Breastfeeding: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Background: Exclusive breastfeeding is the recommended breastfeeding method for infants during the first 6 postnatal months.

Objective: This study aimed to increase breastfeeding duration and frequency using a breastfeeding motivation program (BMP), which was structurally based on Pender's Health Promotion Model (HPM) and administered during pregnancy and the postnatal period. The study was also designed to determine the BMP effectiveness in supporting exclusive breastfeeding.

Materials and methods: The sample of this randomized controlled trial included 100 pregnant women (50 in the BMP, 50 in the control group) who applied to the pregnancy preparation course in a state hospital located in Usak, western Turkey. Participants in the study were allocated into either the BMP group or control group through systematic sampling and randomization. The BMP was structured based on the HPM and was carried out with the BMP study group four times: during the antenatal period, on the first postnatal day, between the fourth and sixth postnatal weeks, and during the fourth postnatal month. Data were analyzed using the descriptive statistical test, Pearson's chi-square test, independent samples t test, and ANOVA.

Results: The mothers in the BMP group started breastfeeding earlier than the mothers in the control group (97.1%) and had fewer problems with their first breastfeeding experience. The average score of perceived self-efficacy in breastfeeding and the rate of first breastfeeding experience (70.6%) were higher in the BMP group by a statistically significant amount.

Conclusion: BMP for breastfeeding, structurally based on Pender's HPM, can help in supporting and maintaining exclusive breastfeeding.

Keywords: breastfeeeding; health promotion; motivation; randomized controlled trial.