The effect of prenatal and postnatal education on exclusive breastfeeding rates

Despite the benefits of breastfeeding, exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) rates remain low globally. Breastfeeding support has increased the initiation and duration of breastfeeding, but the optimal timing, support, and roles of antenatal and postnatal interventions are unclear. This prospective study aimed to investigate whether the addition of individual postnatal support to antenatal group counseling improved the rates of EBF until six months postpartum.

A total of 240 women who attended antenatal breastfeeding education sessions offered for postnatal support in the second and sixth weeks after delivery. Women received postnatal intervention (group II, N.=160) compared to women did not receive the intervention during the postpartum period (group I, N.=80). The EBF rates compared the two groups on day 15 and in the third and sixth postpartum months.

The breastfeeding initiation rates were similar in group I and II (91.5% and 90.8%, respectively), but the EBF rates declined after hospital discharge. The EBF rates on day 15 and in the third and sixth months were 75%, 67.5%, and 60.6%, respectively, in group II. 36.5%, 35%, and 32.5%, respectively, in group I. Postnatal support significantly associated with EBF rates (RR: 3.057, CI:1.5-6.6, P=0.002), after adjusting confounders (AR: 3.03, CI:1.4-6.3, P=0.003).

The provision of antenatal small group sessions in the third trimester, combined with individual problem-oriented support two and six weeks after the delivery, increased EBF rates at six months compared to only antenatal education.