The Effect of Online Postpartum Self-care Training on Breastfeeding Self-efficacy Among Primiparous Turkmen Women During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Quasi-experimental Study

Abstract

Background: Breastfeeding self-efficacy is a crucial, modifiable psychological factor that influences breastfeeding duration. Primiparous women, particularly those from certain ethnic and racial backgrounds, may face substantial challenges in initiating and maintaining breastfeeding. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of online postpartum self-care training in improving breastfeeding self-efficacy among primiparous Turkmen women during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: This quasi-experimental study with a pretest-posttest design was conducted in Iran in 2021 using consecutive sampling. A total of 84 primiparous Turkmen women were equally allocated to the intervention and control groups using a time-based cluster allocation method. Data were collected using the Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale at three time points: before the intervention, immediately after the intervention, and two weeks after completion of the intervention. The control group received routine care at health centers, whereas the intervention group received additional online breastfeeding and self-care training over two weeks, with three sessions per week. Data were analyzed using the chi-square test, Fisher exact test, t-test, and analysis of variance. Results: At baseline, no significant between-group differences were observed in demographic characteristics or mean breastfeeding self-efficacy scores in the control (47.07 ± 5.65) and intervention (46.40 ± 5.18) groups (P > 0.05). Compared with the control group, the intervention group had significantly higher breastfeeding self-efficacy scores immediately after the intervention (64.40 ± 7.65 vs 59.47 ± 8.85, P = 0.008) and two weeks after the intervention (66.14 ± 7.46 vs 57.04 ± 10.54, P < 0.001). Simultaneous assessment of group and time effects showed that mean breastfeeding self-efficacy scores varied significantly over time between groups (F = 10.08, P < 0.001). Conclusions: Virtual and interactive education on self-care and breastfeeding during the postpartum period positively affected breastfeeding self-efficacy among primiparous women.