The effect of home visitation educational program on the nutrition pattern and duration of exclusive breastfeeding in preterm newborns

In spite of the worldwide emphasis on exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months of birth, many mothers stop breastfeeding. Home visit, as an interventional method, may influence the duration of exclusive breastfeeding. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of a home visit educational intervention on the nutrition pattern and duration of exclusive breastfeeding in preterm newborns.
In this experimental research, preterm newborns with the gestational age of below 37 weeks were randomly allocated to an intervention (n=30) and a control group (n=30). The educational program of home visit was presented to the intervention group for a period of 6 months. On the other hand, the control group received the routine hospital care. The two groups were compared regarding the nutrition pattern and duration of exclusive breastfeeding during the first, second, third, and sixth months of birth. The data were analyzed using independent samples t–test and chi–square test.
The results indicated a significant difference between the two groups regarding nutrition pattern in the second, third, and sixth months. In these months, a higher percentage of the children had been exclusively breastfed. Moreover, the duration of exclusive breastfeeding was higher in the intervention group (1.75±2.69 months) compared to the control group (0.67±1.24 months) (P The results of this study indicated that the home visit educational program was effective in the nutrition pattern and duration of exclusive breastfeeding in preterm newborns. Considering the importance of continuation of cares and the positive effects of breastfeeding, healthcare providers are recommended to incorporate home visit educational plan into their programs so as to promote the preterm newborn's health.