Effect of Antenatal Counselling by Healthcare Professionals in Initiating Precise Early Breastfeeding Practices in Primigravida Mothers: A Quasi-experimental Study
Introduction: Exclusive breastfeeding practices for six months and its continuity, including supplementary foods, is recommended to the child for a particular duration. In addition, antenatal counselling on early breastfeeding practices ensures optimum nutrition for the neonates, thereby reducin...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
JCDR Research and Publications Pvt. Ltd.
2022-06-01
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| Series: | Indian Journal of Neonatal Medicine and Research |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.ijnmr.net/articles/PDF/2348/56704_CE[Nik]_F(SHU)_PF1(SM_SHU)_PFA(SM_SHU)_PN(SHU).pdf |
| Summary: | Introduction: Exclusive breastfeeding practices for six
months and its continuity, including supplementary foods, is
recommended to the child for a particular duration. In addition,
antenatal counselling on early breastfeeding practices ensures
optimum nutrition for the neonates, thereby reducing mortality.
Aim: To evaluate the positive effects of antenatal counselling on
breastfeeding outcomes in primigravida women.
Materials and Methods: This quasi-experimental study was
conducted over 18 month on the mothers who attended the
obstetrics department at Niloufer hospital in Hyderabad, India.
Participants were allocated either to a study group (n=100)
(volunteered for antenatal counselling) or a control group (n=100) (did
not volunteer for antenatal counselling). The study group received
1-3 breastfeeding counselling sessions during different months
of gestation, whereas the control group merely received routine
antenatal counselling. A breastfeeding performance checklist
was finished, and the outcome of the counselling sessions was
observed among the subjects. The procured data was analysed
using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software
version 22.0 for the t-test, odd’s ratio and Chi-square values,
p-value<0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results: This study monitored the breastfeeding practice
of mothers in the first 48 hours and defined corrective timely
breastfeeding practice for the following infantile period based on
their reflexively formed habits under the impact of counselling
improving awareness. Statistically, significant difference was
observed in the counselled group concerning duration of
breastfeeding, importance, and the benefits of breastfeeding
to the mothers and families when compared to the control
group (p<0.0001**). In addition, the questionnaire and the
breastfeeding assessment scores were statistically significant in
the counselled group compared to the control group (p<0.001**
and p=0.002*, respectively).
Conclusion: The statistically significant results of the study
showed that antenatal counselling during pregnancy increases
the frequency and duration of exclusive breastfeeding in mothers.
Various aspects of counselling sessions on breastfeeding
practices cleared the myths and misconceptions that mothers
previously had in this study |
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| ISSN: | 2277-8527 2455-6890 |