Abstract:
This quasi-experimental research investigated the effects of a program
promoting the grandmothers role in encouraging breastfeeding by first-time
mothers. The study investigated grandmothers knowledge about breastfeeding and
mothers perceived social support from grandmothers. The subjects of the study
were 50 dyads of grandmothers and postpartum mothers after normal vaginal birth
delivery, who were hospitalized at Sai Noi Hospital, Nontaburi Province, Thailand.
The subjects were divided into an experimental and control group, with 25 subjects
in each group. The grandmothers in the control group received only routine nursing
care from the hospital, while those in the experimental group received the
grandmothers role promoting program. The grandmothers role promoting
program consisted of dissemination of knowledge, demonstration, and skill practice
for grandmothers, to enable them to assist postpartum mothers in breastfeeding.
The program was developed based on the concept of social support proposed by
House. Follow-up visits were also conducted. Data were collected by means of a
demographic characteristics questionnaire, a mothers perceived social support
from the grandmother questionnaire, and a mothers opinion toward the
grandmothers role promoting program questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and
independent t-test were used in data analysis.
The study findings revealed that the experimental mothers perceived
better support from their grandmothers than those in the control group (p < 0.05).
Finally, 72% of the experimental mothers were very satisfied with their
participation in the grandmothers role promoting program.
Based on the study findings, it is recommended that nurses and related
health personnel can implement the grandmothers role promoting program to
continuously promote breastfeeding during recovery period after child delivery and
after hospital discharge. Also, this program can be adapted for expecting mothers to
help more effectively promote breastfeeding