Effectiveness of Midwife-led Structured Education Intervention on Optimal Breastfeeding Knowledge among Primigravid Women in Nigeria: a Randomised Control Trial

Abstract

Breast milk is a priceless essential food for the first six months of life and yet sub-Saharan Africa has neonatal deaths attributed
to sub optimal breastfeeding. The study assessed the effectiveness of lecture and lecture with demonstration in optimal
breastfeeding knowledge among women. The study adopted a quasi-experimental randomized design. A sample of 141 was
determined from a population of 191 primigravid women attending antenatal clinics in General Hospitals Enugu Nigeria. A
researcher developed validated was used to collect data from 63 intervention and 76 control group. A pretest was conducted and
intervention was given to the participants while posttests were conducted at different times after intervention. Data were analyzed
using SPSS version 26.0. Descriptive statistics was used to present socio demographic variables and objectives of the study while
inferential statistics were used to ascertain the effectiveness of the intervention at 0.05 level of significance. Results showed that
most of the participants were in the age range of 21-30 years. The Pre-intervention knowledge level was poor in both groups and
after intervention knowledge levels increased over time higher in the intervention than in the control group. Hypotheses tested
revealed that educational interventions were effective as those in the intervention groups were significantly more knowledgeable
than those in the control group. Antenatal care attendance was a significant predictor of knowledge of optimal breastfeeding. The
researcher concluded that lectures with demonstration during antenatal are effective in improving knowledge level of optimal
breastfeeding and recommended that authorities implement policy instituting breastfeeding support groups in hospitals.