The Effect of Education Through Cyberspace on Breastfeeding Efficacy of Primiparous Women in Shahroud in 2018: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Abstract

Introduction: To start and continue breastfeeding, primiparous women have many challenges. Breastfeeding self-efficacy is an important psychological and motivational variable, but is also modifiable for the continuation of nutrition with mother milk. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of education through cyberspace on breastfeeding in women with their first birth. Methods: This classic experimental study was carried out on 65 primiparous women that referred to Shahrood maternity preparatory centers during their 28-32 pregnancy weeks in 2018. Two centers were randomly selected from four health centers and then, in an accessible way, 65 people were assigned to control and experimental groups. The experimental group received breastfeeding training educational program in 7 sessions with intervals of 45-60 minutes. The data was collected using a demographic questionnaire and breastfeeding self-efficacy and were analyzed using SPSS 21, independent sample, paired sample and covariance tests considering P<0.05 significant. Results: The independent t-test did not show a significant difference between the mean self-efficacy of the two groups before and after the intervention (P= 0.1), but there was a significant difference between the two groups after the intervention (P<0.01). Conclusion: According to the results, education through cyberspace can be used as a new and effective method for self-efficacy of breastfeeding in primiparous women. Therefore, it seems that mothers' education can improve the factors related to lactation self-efficacy and subsequently improve breastfeeding status.