The Effect of a Breastfeeding Roadmap on Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy and Effective Breastfeeding in Primiparous Mothers.

BACKGROUND

Despite its well-documented benefits, establishing and maintaining effective breastfeeding in the early postpartum period can be challenging, particularly for primiparous mothers, underscoring the need for evidence-based interventions.

OBJECTIVE

The study was conducted to examine the impact of the breastfeeding roadmap on breastfeeding self-efficacy and breastfeeding effectiveness in primiparous women.

METHODS

The randomized controlled study included 74 primiparous mothers. The intervention group received breastfeeding education through a breastfeeding roadmap in addition to routine breastfeeding education. The control group received only routine breastfeeding education. Pretest data were collected within the first hour after birth, and posttest data were collected before the mothers were discharged. Data were collected using the Introductory Information Form, the Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale-Short Form (BSES-SF), and the LATCH Breastfeeding Assessment Tool, which was used to assess breastfeeding effectiveness. The study protocol was registered in ClinicalTrials (NCT06918574).

RESULTS

When the mixed design ANOVA results were examined, the group × time interaction was found to be statistically significant in favor of the intervention group for breastfeeding self-efficacy (F = 61.561, p < 0.001, ηp2 = 0.461) and breastfeeding effectiveness (F = 39.572, p < 0.001, ηp2 = 0.355).

CONCLUSIONS

The breastfeeding education given to the mothers in the intervention group through the breastfeeding roadmap contributed positively to the increase in postpartum breastfeeding self-efficacy and breastfeeding effectiveness. Based on our results, it may be recommended that health professionals use the breastfeeding roadmap to support mothers' breastfeeding self-efficacy and breastfeeding effectiveness during the postpartum period.