Effect of Breastfeeding Education Program and Nurse-led Breastfeeding Online Counseling System (BMUM) for Mothers: A Randomized Controlled Study.

Abstract

Breastfeeding is very important for maternal and infant health. With first pregnancies, many pregnant people face obstacles to achieving their breastfeeding goals.

We aimed to investigate the outcomes of a breastfeeding education program and nurse-led online breastfeeding counseling system (BMUM) on breastfeeding self-efficacy, attitudes about breastfeeding, breastfeeding problems, breastfeeding frequencies and postpartum depression.

This study was a randomized controlled trial. Participants were randomly assigned to the intervention group ( = 36), or control group ( = 36). Assessments were conducted during pregnancy, between 32- and 37-weeks gestation, and on postpartum Day 1, Week 1, Week 3, and 6 months.

The means of the Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy-Short Form scores, and the Infant Feeding Attitude Scale (IIFAS) scores were similar between the groups at the first assessment ( = 0.733). IIFAS scores in the intervention group were significantly higher in the follow-up measurements on postpartum Day 1, Week 1, Week 3, and 6 months compared to scores in the control group ( = 0.006; = 0.000; = 0.002; = 0.001) Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS) scores were similar between the two groups at 1 week ( = 0.678). EPDS scores were significantly higher in the control group on Day 1 and at 3 and 6 months postpartum ( = 0.000; = 0.038; = 0.042). There was no statistically significant difference in breastfeeding problems between the two groups ( > 0.05 across breastfeeding problems examined). The mean values of breastfeeding frequency were similar between groups on Day 1, and significantly higher in the intervention group on follow-up measurements.

The results of this intervention appear to promote positive attitudes toward breastfeeding and decrease feelings of postpartum depression. However, further randomized controlled trials are needed to support our outcomes.