Abstract
Background
In this pilot study, the breastfeed care plus intervention program was implemented to support women and their families in breastfeeding success. Primary interests were women’s self-efficacy in breastfeeding and exclusive breastfeeding.
Methods
A pilot study was developed in the region of Aveiro–Portugal in two Family Health Units. The experimental and control groups consisted of sixteen women each, initially. Four home visits with assessment and guidance focused on breastfeeding support aimed at women and families were delivered in the experimental group, while the control group received conventional care. Both groups were followed between the 5th and the 120th day postpartum and were subjected to three evaluation moments.
Results
On the 120th day postpartum, eleven women completed the BCP intervention program (three women stopped breastfeeding), and nine women received conventional care (seven women stopped breastfeeding). Both interventions proved to be effective in improving the ‘perception of breastfeeding self-efficacy,' with higher scores being found in the experimental group (p < 0.001). The proportion of exclusive breastfeeding was also higher in the experimental group.
Conclusions for Practice
The BCP intervention program, during the first 120 days postpartum, showed promissory results in improving ‘perception of breastfeeding self-efficacy’ compared to conventional care, favoring breastfeeding duration and exclusivity, and cumulative breastfeeding competence of women/families.
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Abbreviations
- %:
-
Percentage
- BCP:
-
Breastfeed care plus
- BSES-SF:
-
Breastfeeding self-efficacy scale—short form
- CG:
-
Control group
- CHA:
-
Children health appointment
- CI:
-
Confidence interval
- EG:
-
Experimental group
- FHU:
-
Family health unit
- HV:
-
Home visit
- M1, M2, M3:
-
Initial evaluation, intermedium assessment, the final assessment
- min.:
-
Minutes
- n:
-
Number of participants
- p :
-
Probability value or significance.
- sd:
-
Standard deviation
- y:
-
Years
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Acknowledgements
The authors acknowledge the nursing teams of the FHU Santa Joana and FHU Atlântico Norte for their active participation and collaboration in data collection, and the women/families for their collaboration and receptivity in the development of this pilot study.
Funding
This pilot study was no funding.
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Contributions
The authors confirm contribution to the manuscript as follows: study conception and design: ARP, JJA; data collection: ARP; analysis and interpretation of results: ARP, JJA; draft manuscript preparation: ARP, JJA, EMM; subsequent manuscript revisions: EMM. All authors reviewed the results and approved the final version of the manuscript.
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The authors report no conflict of interest or competing interests.
Ethical Approval
The pilot study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Centre Regional Health Administration (28NOV’2017:88/2017).
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Informed consent was obtained from all women participants.
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Pádua, A.R., Melo, E.M. & Alvarelhão, J.J. An Intervention Program Based on Regular Home Visits for Improving Maternal Breastfeeding Self-efficacy: A Pilot Study in Portugal. Matern Child Health J 26, 575–586 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-021-03361-7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-021-03361-7