The effect of educational support intervention including peer groups for infant care on the growth rates of infants, breastfeeding self-efficacy and quality of life of their mothers in Iran: study protocol

BACKGROUND: Mothers' knowledge about the infant's problems and will provide the necessary care can increase the mother's confidence in providing care for her infant and eliminate misconceptions in primiparous mothers. The present study will be conducted to evaluate the effect of educational support intervention including peer groups for infant care on the growth rates of infants, breastfeeding self-efficacy and quality of life of their mothers in Iran. METHODS: This quasi-experimental study is an educational support intervention protocol for infant care which will be conducted in two phases. The educational support program will be designed in the first phase. The program includes educational sessions on breastfeeding, growth and development of infants and care for children under 1 year of age in a virtual group where a physician, a nurse, a midwife and a healthcare provider are also present. Using the opinions of the experts, the peer group will discuss various points and the research team will finalize the program based on priorities. The second phase of the educational intervention will be conducted experimentally as a pretest–posttest design for the intervention and control groups. DISCUSSION: The present study will provide useful protocol about the effect of educational support intervention for infant care and the sharing of peer group experiences on infants' growth rates, breastfeeding self-efficacy, and quality of life of their mothers. The current educational package not only combines virtual education and peer experiences in strengthening the education of mothers, but also it can improve mothers' physical and mental health and reduce medical costs by using telephone follow-up in supporting of the mothers of infants. Trial registration: Registration of this randomized control trial has been completed with the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials, IRCT20210913052457N1, registered 9/10/2021, https://www.irct.ir/trial/59093.