The Effectiveness of Structured Education and Follow-Up in the
Management of Perceived Milk Insufficiency Breastfeeding Mothers: A
Randomized Controlled Trial
Abstract
Rationale, aims, and objectives: This study aims to determine the
effectiveness of structured education and follow-up in the management of
perceived milk insufficiency and increasing the baby’s amount of milk
intake among breastfeeding mothers. Methods: A randomized controlled
trial was carried over the period December 2018-June 2019 at Family
Health Centers in Turkey with 64 mothers (study group: 33 and control
group: 31). The study group were provided with education with structured
educational material and followed. Data were collected with a
Descriptive Information Form, a Breastfeeding Follow-up Form and the
IMDAT- Scoring System for Measuring a Baby’s Intake of Breast Milk.
Results: Mothers in the study group started breastfeeding their babies
in the first one hour after birth (study: 97.0%; control: 77.4%; χ² =
5.586, p = 0.018). It was observed at each monitoring that a
significantly greater percentage of the mothers in the study group
believed their milk to be sufficient (study: 84.8%, 90.9% and 78.8;
control: 38.8%, 38.8% and 38.8%, respectively) and that they fed
their babies exclusively with breast milk (study: 84.8%, 87.9% and
78.8; control: 32.3%, 38.7% and 35.5%, respectively) in the tree
follow-ups. The data obtained at all three tracking times showed that
that the baby’s amount of milk intake in the study group (%81.8; %78.8
and %60.6, respectively) were better than in the control group (%54.8;
%48.4 and %29.0, respectively); these differences were seen to be
statistically significant. These results were also confirmed by
regression analysis, in which education level, working status and having
experience in breastfeeding were considered as impact modifier
variables. Conclusion: This study concluded that the structured
education and follow-ups increased the feeding 0-2 month-old babies
exclusively breast milk and the amount of the baby’s milk intake, and
while perceptions of breast milk deficiency diminished