Effect of Breastfeeding Education Given to Adolescent Mothers With Lactation Simulation Model on Maternal Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy, Maternal Infant Attachment, and Infant Anthropometric Measurements

In low-income and developing countries, 30% of adolescents marry before the age of 18, and 14% marry before the age of 15. Additionally, adolescents between the ages of 15 and 19 are often coerced into marriage or sexual relationships with partners older than themselves. 10% of adolescents under the age of 15 in the world are forced to have sexual intercourse and as a result, unwanted teenage pregnancies occur. In high-income countries like Latin America, there is a high prevalence of adolescent non-marital pregnancies. When considering the fertility, health, and social outcomes of adolescence, it emerges as a significant issue. Adolescent motherhood carries numerous adverse effects from both demographic and social perspectives.

In pregnancies occurring during adolescence, both maternal and infant mortality rates are two to three times higher compared to pregnancies at later ages. Many infant and child deaths occur due to preventable causes. Breastfeeding is a significant factor in reducing infant and child mortality. Since infants born to adolescent mothers are at higher risk of death and illness, breastfeeding these infants becomes even more important. However, one of the significant challenges adolescent mothers face during the postpartum period is initiating and maintaining lactation. Research has shown that maternal age plays a significant role in initiating and sustaining breastfeeding, with a strong positive correlation between maternal age and duration of breastfeeding. This study was designed as a randomized controlled trial to examine the effect of breastfeeding education provided to adolescent mothers on maternal breastfeeding self-efficacy, mother-infant attachment, and infant anthropometric measurements.