Evaluating the effect of educational interventions on the Continuity of breastfeeding behavior in Iranian mothers: A systematic review

Breast milk is the main food of infants, but shortening the duration of breastfeeding is a serious problem, especially in developing countries. Reducing the amount and duration of exclusive breastfeeding can lead to an increase of two to three Equal in the rate of malnutrition, infection and infant mortality.The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of educational interventions in increasing the continuity of exclusive breastfeeding.

Literature search was performed using four databases of Scientific Jihad Scientific Information Center (SID), Iran Scientific Information and Documentation Research Institute (Irandoc), Database of Iranian Publications (Magiran) and Google Scholar. The present study includes studies from 5/24/2010 to 7/12/2020.

A total of 11 studies, including data from 1275 participants, met the inclusion criteria. Eleven studies measured the amount of exclusive breastfeeding before and after the intervention, and 4 articles used the model and theories of health education for the intervention. The planned behavior pattern has been used in 3 studies and the health belief model once to improve breastfeeding.

Designing and implementing an educational intervention to continue breastfeeding significantly improves the awareness of the need for breastfeeding and leads to continued breastfeeding behavior in mothers. Education can be effective in improving performance, awareness and attitudes among parents about how to breastfeed the baby.