The Effects of Spousal Participation in Breastfeeding Interventions at Different Perinatal Stages on Mothers' Coparenting Cognition and Infant Feeding Patterns: A Prospective Quasi-Experimental Study
Trial Snapshot
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Status
- Completed
- Sponsor
- Enrollment
- 526
- Locations
- 1
- Primary Endpoint
- Maternal Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy
Study Overview
Brief Summary
Problem: While partner support benefits breastfeeding outcomes, its impact across perinatal stages on maternal co-parenting perception is unclear.
Background: Spousal involvement plays a vital role in successful breastfeeding and maternal well-being.
Aim: This study aimed to examine the effects of spousal participation in breastfeeding interventions at different perinatal stages on maternal co-parenting perceptions and infant feeding practices for full-term infants.
Methods: Pregnant women who received antenatal care and delivered at our hospital, together with their partners, were recruited and categorized by the timing of partner involvement in breastfeeding activities: both antenatal and postnatal (Group A); antenatal only (Group B); postnatal only (Group C); and no antenatal education but routine postnatal guidance (Group D). Maternal breastfeeding self-efficacy and coparenting perception were assessed at 6, 12, and 24 weeks postpartum.
Study Design
- Study Type
- Interventional
- Allocation
- Non Randomized
- Intervention Model
- Parallel
- Primary Purpose
- Supportive Care
- Masking
- None
Eligibility Criteria
- Ages
- 21 Years to — (Adult, Older Adult)
- Sex
- Female
- Accepts Healthy Volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria
- •Married couples, with gestational age between 12 - 14 weeks at enrollment for Groups A and B;
- •Planned discharge within 48 hours after delivery;
- •Mothers and partners expected to cohabit for ≥6 months postpartum;
- •Gestational age at delivery ≥37 weeks;
- •No diagnosed psychiatric disorders in either partner;
- •Voluntary participation with written informed consent from both mother and partner;
- •Neonates with Apgar scores ≥8 at 1, 5, and 10 minutes after birth.
Exclusion Criteria
- •Maternal diagnosis of infectious diseases (e.g., HIV, hepatitis B);
- •Withdrawal from the study at any stage;
- •Failure to complete required questionnaires;
- •Loss to follow-up during the study period;
- •Concurrent participation in other interventional studies;
- •Major fetal anomalies.
Arms & Interventions
Full-stage Parental Involvement Group (A)
Perinatal (14 weeks gestation to 24 weeks postpartum) parental joint breastfeeding support
Intervention: Parental Involvement in Breastfeeding Support (Behavioral)
Prenatal Parental Involvement Group (B)
Prenatal (14 weeks gestation to delivery) parental joint breastfeeding support, postpartum maternal-only support
Intervention: Parental Involvement in Breastfeeding Support (Behavioral)
Postpartum Parental Involvement Group (C)
Prenatal maternal-only support, postpartum (delivery to 24 weeks) parental joint breastfeeding support
Intervention: Parental Involvement in Breastfeeding Support (Behavioral)
Maternal-only Support Group (D)
Postpartum maternal-only routine breastfeeding guidance
Intervention: Maternal-only Breastfeeding Support (Behavioral)
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Maternal Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy
Time Frame: 6 weeks postpartum, 12 weeks postpartum, 24 weeks postpartum
Measured by the Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale-Short Form (BSES-SF). This 14-item scale uses a 5-point response scale (1 = not confident at all, 5 = completely confident), with a total score ranging from 14 to 70. Higher scores indicate stronger breastfeeding self-efficacy. Measured at 6, 12, and 24 weeks postpartum.
Spousal Involvement Frequency in Breastfeeding
Time Frame: 6 weeks postpartum; 12 weeks postpartum; 24 weeks postpartum
Recorded via a self-designed activity log, including spousal assistance in breastfeeding preparation, positioning, and follow-up.
Secondary Outcomes
- Coparenting Perception Level(6 weeks postpartum; 12 weeks postpartum; 24 weeks postpartum)
- Breastfeeding Type(6 weeks postpartum; 12 weeks postpartum; 24 weeks postpartum)
- Neonatal Weight Gain(6 weeks postpartum; 12 weeks postpartum; 24 weeks postpartum)
- Duration of Jaundice(6 weeks postpartum; 12 weeks postpartum; 24 weeks postpartum)
Investigators
Run Huang
Director
Sichuan University