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Updated: Jun 10, 2026
A Common Marmoset Model of Mother-Infant Intervention for Breastfeeding Disorders in the Presence of Paternal Inhibition and Maternal Neglect
Published on: September 22, 2023
Effect of a competency-based nurse-led exclusive breastfeeding training program on nurses' counseling competence and
Eman Atef Elsokary1, Sahar Shafeek Mohamed Afify2, Ahmed Zaher Mohamed3
1Lecturer of Maternal and Newborn Health Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Capital University, Egypt.
Background:
Exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) is a highly cost-effective public health strategy that reduces infant morbidity and mortality and improves maternal health outcomes. However, EBF rates remain below global targets, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).
Aim:
To evaluate the effect of a structured, competency-based nurse-led EBF training program on maternity nurses' breastfeeding knowledge and counseling competence and to examine its association with postpartum mothers' breastfeeding self-efficacy and exclusive breastfeeding outcomes.
Methods:
A quasi-experimental pre-post intervention study was conducted in the postpartum wards of Benha University Hospitals, Egypt. Forty-three maternity nurses were assessed at baseline, immediately post-intervention, and at 3-month follow-up. Postpartum mothers (N = 162) were recruited in three phase-based repeated cross-sectional cohorts (n = 54 per phase). Nurse outcomes included breastfeeding knowledge and observed counseling competence. Maternal outcomes included breastfeeding self-efficacy measured using the Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale-Short Form and exclusive breastfeeding status assessed at 6 months using WHO/UNICEF Infant and Young Child Feeding indicators.
Results:
Nurses demonstrated significant improvements in breastfeeding knowledge and observed counseling competence immediately post-intervention (p < .001), with gains sustained at 3-month follow-up. Mothers who received counseling after the nurse-led EBF training program demonstrated greater improvements in breastfeeding self-efficacy and maintained exclusive breastfeeding for longer durations compared with mothers counseled during the pre-training phase.
Conclusion:
A structured competency-based nurse-led exclusive breastfeeding training program improved nurses' counseling competence and was associated with enhanced maternal breastfeeding self-efficacy and longer exclusive breastfeeding duration. Workforce-strengthening interventions may represent a feasible and scalable strategy to improve postpartum breastfeeding outcomes in LMIC hospital settings.
Clinical Trial Number:
Not applicable.
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