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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2022 Jan 10;12(1):373.
doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-04338-w.

A randomised controlled trial evaluating the effect of a brief motivational intervention to promote breastfeeding in postpartum depression

C Franco-Antonio  1   2 , E Santano-Mogena  3   4 , S Chimento-Díaz  2 , P Sánchez-García  2   5 , S Cordovilla-Guardia  1
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

A randomised controlled trial evaluating the effect of a brief motivational intervention to promote breastfeeding in postpartum depression

C Franco-Antonio et al. Sci Rep. .

Abstract

Postpartum depression (PPD) is the most frequent psychiatric complication during the postnatal period. According to existing evidence, an association exists between the development of PPD and the maintenance of breastfeeding. A brief motivational intervention (bMI), based on the motivational interview, seems effective in promoting breastfeeding. The objective of this study was to analyse the impact of a bMI aiming to promote breastfeeding on the development of PPD and explore the mediating/moderating roles of breastfeeding and breastfeeding self-efficacy in the effect of the intervention on developing PPD. Eighty-eight women who gave birth by vaginal delivery and started breastfeeding during the immediate postpartum period were randomly assigned to the intervention group (bMI) or control group (breastfeeding education). Randomisation by minimisation was carried out. The breastfeeding duration was longer in the intervention group (11.06 (± 2.94) weeks vs 9.02 (± 4.44), p = 0.013). The bMI was associated with a lower score on the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, with a regression β coefficient of - 2.12 (95% CI - 3.82; - 0.41). A part of this effect was mediated by the effect of the intervention on the duration of breastfeeding (mediation/moderation index β = - 0.57 (95% CI - 1.30; - 0.04)). These findings suggest that a bMI aiming to promote breastfeeding has a positive impact preventing PPD mainly due to its effectiveness in increasing the duration of breastfeeding.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
CONSORT diagram of the study.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Analysis of postpartum depression in the study groups.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Analysis of the moderated mediation of the effect of the brief motivational intervention on the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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