Effect of Continuous Supportive Telephone Counselling on Improving Breastfeeding Self-efficacy in Mothers with Late Preterm Infants Four Months After Discharge: a Randomized, Controlled Study

BACKGROUND: Breastfeeding self-efficacy is an important motivational factor in the continuity of lactation in mothers with preterm infants. OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to determine the effect of continuous supportive telephone counselling on improving breastfeeding self-efficacy in mothers with late preterm infants. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This randomized, controlled study was carried out with 65 eligible mothers (control n = 32, intervention n = 33) recruited in Ahvaz, Iran, in 2020. The eligible women were allocated into two groups— intervention and control—according to the block design. Data were measured monthly up to four months after discharge using the Dennis Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Questionnaire. The control group received only routine care. Continuous supportive telephone counselling was provided for the intervention group members daily for 14 days after neonatal discharge. Data were analyzed using chi-square, repeated measures analysis of variance, independent t-test, and paired t-test at the significant level of 0.05. Statistical analysis was performed using the SPSS 16.0 software (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). RESULTS: The overall score in breastfeeding self-efficacy showed a statistically significant difference between the two study groups during the four months after discharge compared to the pre-intervention stage (P = 0.001). In the intervention group, the mean score of breastfeeding self-efficacy increased from 33.18 to 53.48, and in the control group it decreased from 31.17 to 28.56. CONCLUSION: The results showed that continuous supportive telephone counselling can improve breastfeeding self-efficacy in mothers with preterm infants. The approach seems to be an acceptable basis for designing intervention programs in this field.