Promoting breast-feeding through health education: A randomized controlled trial

Determining to what extent postpartum breast-feeding education can increase the duration of breast-feeding over a period of four months after delivery. This randomized trial was performed to assess the effectiveness of a breast-feeding education program in lengthening the duration of exclusive breast-feeding. This was a brief package aimed at empowering participants through a process of education and skill building. All patients (N=120) had normal babies through vaginal delivery and were randomly allocated into two groups, matched for demographic and obstetric characteristics. The intervention group (N=60) but not the control group received the breast-feeding course. Of all 120 subjects, 110 (53 in the intervention group and 57 in the control group) completed the study. Breastfeeding duration was assessed after four months of follow-up and data were analyzed using the SPSS software package with T-test and X². The breast-feeding program was effective in increasing the duration of exclusive breast-feeding so that the rate of exclusive breast-feeding at the end of 4th month was 64.2% in the intervention group and 29.8% in the other group (P<0.0001). Mothers in the intervention group breast-fed their babies for longer periods compared to those in the control group. These differences were statistically significant. This study suggests that education on breast-feeding might be an effective way to promote the initiation and duration of breast-feeding.