The Effect of Interventional Program on Breastfeeding Self –Efficacy and Duration of Exclusive Breastfeeding in Mothers referred to Treatment Health Centers of Ahvaz in 2010.

Abstract

Abstract: Introduction: Breastfeeding is one of the most important ways for improving children's health and its positive effects on baby's growth and mother's health has been known for years. One of the effective factors in continuation of breastfeeding is self –efficacy in breastfeeding. Breastfeeding self-efficacy is valuable framework that anticipates breastfeeding manner and shows maternal self –confidence and her level of ability in breastfeeding. Whereas high level of self –efficacy can be effective in increase of exclusive breastfeeding duration, this research has been designed and done by objective of determination of interventional program effect on breastfeeding self –efficacy and duration of exclusive breastfeeding in pregnant women referred to treatment –health centers of Ahvaz. Materials and Methods: This study was a semi –experimental study in which 130 pregnant women referred to treatment –health center of Ahvaz (Women who had necessary qualification of the study) were selected and then, were divided into 2 groups of case and control randomly. After determination of primary self –efficacy score of the samples, interventional program was performed for case group. Then, one month after childbirth, self –efficacy score was determined by Fax & Dennis questionnaires. Data were analyzed by using of descriptive and inferential statistics in SPSS 17. Findings: The findings of this study showed that, after carrying out the interference, the score of breastfeeding self –efficacy in case group was higher that control group. Also, there was a significant relationship (correlation) between breastfeeding self –efficacy and duration of exclusive breastfeeding. Thus, mothers with high level of self –efficacy had high rate of exclusive breastfeeding and longer breastfeeding duration than mothers with low level of self –efficacy. Discussion and Consequences: With due attention to confirmed advantages of breastfeeding and important role of breastfeeding self –efficacy in selection of feeding by breast milk and exclusive breastfeeding and duration of breastfeeding can increase by mothers educations, so that mothers can solve their problems easier than before by increase of self –efficacy and with self –confidence & leaning on their beliefs and as a result, they can get away from effective stresses in continuation of breastfeeding and also they can promote their health, their child's health and health of society by increasing their breast feeding duration.