Assessment of effects of pre- and post-training programme for healthcare professionals about breastfeeding.

ABSTRACT

This retrospective study assessed the effects of pre- and post-training programme for healthcare professionals about breastfeeding. The study included 3,114 mothers who had children aged 1-72 month(s). Their knowledge and behaviours relating to breastfeeding were evaluated. The mothers were randomly divided into two groups the 'before' group included 2,000 women who were not informed about breastfeeding, and the 'after' group comprised 1,114 women who had been informed about breastfeeding. 56.2% and 66.1% of the mothers started breastfeeding within 30 minutes after delivery, respectively, in the before and the after group (chi2 = 29.31, p < 0.001). 16.7% and 36.5% gave exclusive breastfeeding for six months (chi2 = 72.85, p < 0.001), and 28.5% and 23.7% stopped breastfeeding within the first five months (chi2 = 17.20, p = 0.002). Ninety-four percent delivered in a hospital or in a primary healthcare centre. Therefore, prenatal and postnatal breastfeeding education and support courses may improve a woman's chance of starting and continuing to breastfeed her baby. In terms of the number of antenatal check-ups, since the differences between the two groups were significant (chi2 = 390.67, p = 0.000), the importance of the training programme about breastfeeding was highlighted. Follow-up interventions after training are suggested.