The Effect of Educational Intervention Based on Bandura’s Social Cognitive Theory on Breastfeeding Behaviors of Mothers With Premature Infants: A Quasi-Experimental Study

Objective:

 Breastfeeding is one of the most important factors in ensuring the health of premature infants. Maternal self-efficacy is an important factor in the initiation and continuation of breastfeeding. The present study aims to determine the effect of educational intervention based on Bandura’s social cognitive theory on breastfeeding behaviors of mothers with premature infants.

Methods:

 This is a quasi-experimental study that was conducted in 2020 on 82 mothers with premature infants, randomly assigned to two groups of intervention (n=41) and control (n=41). Data were collected using a demographic form, Barnes’s perceived maternal parenting self-efficacy tool, and an observation checklist for breastfeeding behaviors mother. Educational intervention in the intervention group was presented individually based on four sources of information proposed in Bandura’s theory at four sessions, each for 45-60 minutes four days before discharge. The questionnaires were completed before the intervention, on the day of discharge, and one week after discharge. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics (mean and standard deviation) and inferential statistics (paired t-test and independent t-test) in SPSS software, version 24.

Results:

 The mean age of mothers in the intervention and control groups was 29.6 and 28.2 years, respectively. Maternal self-efficacy before intervention was not significantly different between the intervention and control groups (P=0.073), but it significantly increased after intervention (P=0.001). The breastfeeding behavior after intervention was also significantly different between the two groups, which was higher in the intervention group than in the control group.

Conclusion:

 The educational intervention based on Bandura’s theory can increase the self-efficacy and breastfeeding behaviors of mothers with premature infants. Given the importance of mothers’ self-efficacy in infant care, educating mothers of premature infants is necessary.