Effect of antenatal educational intervention on maternal breastfeeding self-efficacy and breastfeeding success: a quasi-experimental study (*)

OBJECTIVE: To examine the effect of breastfeeding educational intervention given in the antenatal period on LATCH and breastfeeding self-efficacy scores. METHOD: A total of 80 pregnant who met the research criteria were randomly assigned to intervention (n = 40) or control (n = 40) groups. Pregnant women received to the control group received only standard care while breastfeeding education was accepted to the intervention group along with standard care. Both groups were visited at their home, and the personal data form, the LATCH Breastfeeding Assessment Tool, and Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale–Short Form (BSES-SF) were applied in the postpartum 1st week. End of the study, brochures prepared by the researcher were given to both groups. RESULT: The mean breastfeeding self-efficacy and LATCH scores were higher in the intervention group compared to the control group. Breastfeeding success was found to increase as the maternal breastfeeding self-efficacy perception increased. CONCLUSION: Breastfeeding education given in the antenatal period increased maternal breastfeeding self-efficacy perception and breastfeeding success in the postpartum 1st week period. Study is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04757324.