Effectiveness of a prenatal education programme on breastfeeding outcomes in Taiwan

AIMS: The objectives of this study were to design a structured prenatal education programme on breastfeeding and to evaluate the effectiveness of the programme. Indicators of effectiveness were selected based on Kirkpatrick's Training Evaluation Model, including satisfaction with the programme, breastfeeding knowledge, breastfeeding attitude, breastfeeding satisfaction, breastfeeding problems and rate of exclusive breastfeeding.

METHODS: This study applied a quasi-experimental design. The experimental group included 46 women who received a 90-minute group educational programme on breastfeeding during their 20th-36th week of pregnancy. Each experimental subject was matched by a control subject according to age, educational level, work status and pregnancy gestational age. Control subjects did not receive any intervention. Data were collected through self-administered questionnaires at preintervention, postintervention, three days postpartum and one month postpartum.

RESULTS: Satisfaction with the programme was high. The experimental group had higher scores in breastfeeding knowledge and breastfeeding attitude at three days postpartum. The experimental group showed higher breastfeeding satisfaction at three days and one month postpartum. There were no significant differences in experiencing breastfeeding problems. The rate of exclusive breastfeeding was higher for the experimental group at three days and one month postpartum, but the differences were not statistically significant.

CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated the effectiveness of a prenatal education programme on maternal knowledge, attitude and satisfaction toward breastfeeding.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Other hospitals could apply this model to plan and evaluate their prenatal education programme on breastfeeding.