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Effects of Individualized Immediate Postnatal Counselling on Exclusive Breast Feeding

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Breast Feeding
Counselling
Interventions
Other: Counselling
Registration Number
NCT06564922
Lead Sponsor
Bule Hora University
Brief Summary

Breastfeeding is crucial for the health of both mothers and infants, promoting healthier populations and reducing long-term healthcare costs. To maximize these benefits, education, support, and effective policies are essential. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of immediate postpartum counseling on early initiation and exclusive breastfeeding rates in the pastoralist areas of Oromia, Ethiopia.

Hypothesis: Individualized immediate postnatal counselling improve exclusive breastfeeding practice.

Detailed Description

Breastfeeding plays a crucial role in promoting the health and well-being of both mothers and their infants, contributing to healthier populations, and reducing long-term healthcare costs. Encouraging breastfeeding through education, support, and policies is essential for maximizing these benefits. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of immediate postpartum counseling on early initiation of breastfeeding rates and exclusive breastfeeding in Bule Hora and Yabelo Hospitals. A cluster randomized single-blinded trial was conducted on 224 pregnant women (112 for the intervention group and 112 for the control group) from January 1, 2023, to April 30, 2023. The effect of immediate postpartum counselling and its associated variables on early initiation and exclusive breastfeeding practices were evaluated using multiple logistic regressions. A p-value of less than 0.05, a 95% confidence interval, and an adjusted odd ratio were used to determine statistical significance.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
Female
Target Recruitment
221
Inclusion Criteria

Not provided

Exclusion Criteria

Not provided

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
SEQUENTIAL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Postnatal Counselling on Exclusive Breast FeedingCounsellingCounseling on exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) emphasizes starting within the first hour after birth and maintaining it for six months. It covers feeding frequency, proper positioning, and attachment techniques to enhance breastfeeding effectiveness. Benefits include reduced neonatal infections and lower maternal disease risks. The counseling warns against mixed feeding, which can lead to increased infection susceptibility and malnutrition. It also highlights postpartum danger signs in newborns, such as fever and irritability, encouraging early medical intervention. This comprehensive approach aims to empower mothers with knowledge, promoting healthier breastfeeding practices and improving outcomes for both mother and child.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Early initiation of breastfeedingup to 1month

Mothers will be asked about their infant breastfeeding practices, specifically regarding the early initiation of breastfeeding. The practice of early infant breastfeeding initiation will be determined using the operational definition of those who started breastfeeding within one hour after birth, while those who did not initiate breastfeeding within the first hour will be categorized accordingly.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Breastfeeding frequencyup to 1 month

Frequency of breast-feeding: This section describes the practice of mothers feeding their infants breast milk on demand. In this study, instances where mothers fed their babies according to their needs and the program guidelines were coded as "0," while instances where babies required feeding were coded as "1." Therefore, a code of "1" indicates that the mother frequently breastfed, whereas a code of "0" indicates that she did not frequently breastfeed.

Mother knowledge and attitudeup to 1 month

Knowledge was assessed by evaluating their understanding of the benefits of breastfeeding for both themselves and their newborns. This evaluation involved eight specific questions. Mothers who answered at or above the mean score were classified as knowledgeable, while those who scored below the mean were considered not knowledgeable.

Attitude: This study assesses attitudes through 10 questions on a five-point likert scale ranging from "strongly agree" to "strongly disagree." Responses are then simplified into a two-point scale (agree or disagree), with "1" assigned for agreement on positive questions and "0" for disagreement. The reverse applies for negative questions. A positive attitude is indicated by responses that meet or exceed the mean score for breastfeeding items, while scores below the mean indicate a negative attitude.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Bule Hora and Yabelo Hospital

🇪🇹

Bulē, Oromia, Ethiopia

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