Prapaporn Wisarapun. The effects of breastfeeding-promoting program on the rate and duration of exclusive breastfeeding in working mothers. Master's Degree(Maternal-Newborn and Women's Health Nursing). Mahidol University. : Mahidol University, 2009-03-30.
The effects of breastfeeding-promoting program on the rate and duration of exclusive breastfeeding in working mothers
Abstract:
This research was a quasi-experimental study aimed at investigating the effects of a breastfeeding-promoting program on the rate and duration of exclusive breastfeeding in working mothers. The sample was composed of 60 working pregnant women expecting their first child with gestational age between 37-40 weeks, who received antenatal care and gave birth at Pranungklao Hospital, Thailand. The sample was selected by the purposive sampling method and divided into experimental and control groups, with 30 women in each group. The sample in the control group received routine nursing care, whereas those in the experimental group participated in the breastfeeding promoting-program together with routine nursing care. The breastfeeding promoting-program consists of dissemination of knowledge, demonstration and practice of skills, support and assistance to postpartum mothers, and telephone follow-ups. Data were collected by the Demographic Characteristics Questionnaire, the Breastfeeding Efficacy Assessment Form (LATCH), the Feeding Monitoring Form, and the Problem Related to Breastfeeding Record Form. The data were then analyzed with Fishers Exact test and the t-test. The findings showed that 26.67 percent of the mothers in the experimental group achieved 4-month exclusive breastfeeding compared to 0 percent in the control group. The Rate of 4-month exclusive breastfeeding in the experimental and the control groups were significantly and statistically different (P<.001). Furthermore, mothers in the experimental group achieved longer average duration of exclusive breastfeeding than those in the control group (69.5 days and 4.66 days, respectively) at a statistically significant level (P<.001). The results suggest that this program was effective. Nurses who involve in maternal-child care should apply this program to continuously promote breastfeeding to mothers during pregnancy, through the postpartum period and after hospital discharge.