Assessment of Effects of Pre- and Post-training Programme for Healthcare Professionals About Breastfeeding

This retrospective study assessed the effects of pre- and post-training programme for healthcare professionals about breastfeeding. The study included 3,114 mothers who had children aged 1-72 month(s). Their knowledge and behaviours relating to breastfeeding were evaluated. The mothers were randomly divided into two groups: the ‘before’ group included 2,000 women who were not informed about breastfeeding, and the ‘after’ group comprised 1,114 women who had been informed about breastfeeding. 56.2% and 66.1% of the mothers started breastfeeding within 30 minutes after delivery, respectively, in the before and the after group (x²=29.31, p<0.001). 16.7% and 36.5% gave exclusive breastfeeding for six months (x²=72.85, p<0.001), and 28.5% and 23.7% stopped breastfeeding within the first five months (x²=17.20, p=0.002). Ninety-four percent delivered in a hospital or in a primary healthcare centre.Therefore, prenatal and postnatal breastfeeding education and support courses may improve a woman’s chance of starting and continuing to breastfeed her baby. In terms of the number of antenatal check-ups, since the differences between the two groups were significant (x²=390.67, p=0.000), the importance of the training programme about breastfeeding was highlighted. Follow-up interventions after training are suggested.