Elizabeth J O'Sullivan1, Goiuri Alberdi1, Helena Scully1, Niamh Kelly1, Regina Kincaid2, Rosie Murtagh2, Stephanie Murray3, Denise McGuinness2, Ashamole Clive2,4, Mary Brosnan2, Lucille Sheehy2, Elizabeth Dunn3, Fionnuala M McAuliffe5,6,7. 1. UCD Perinatal Research Centre, School of Medicine, University College Dublin, The National Maternity Hospital, Dublin 2, Ireland. 2. The National Maternity Hospital, Dublin 2, Ireland. 3. Wexford General Hospital, Wexford, Ireland. 4. School of Nursing and Midwifery, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland. 5. UCD Perinatal Research Centre, School of Medicine, University College Dublin, The National Maternity Hospital, Dublin 2, Ireland. fionnuala.mcauliffe@ucd.ie. 6. The National Maternity Hospital, Dublin 2, Ireland. fionnuala.mcauliffe@ucd.ie. 7. UCD Perinatal Research Centre, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, School of Medicine, University College Dublin, The National Maternity Hospital, 65/66 Lower Mount St., Dublin 2, Ireland. fionnuala.mcauliffe@ucd.ie.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Breastfeeding rates in Ireland are among the lowest worldwide. A feasibility study of a breastfeeding-support intervention explored maternal characteristics associated with antenatal breastfeeding self-efficacy and with infant-feeding mode at 6 weeks postpartum among women giving birth in Ireland. METHODS: We conducted a prospective study across two sites, urban and rural: The National Maternity Hospital (NMH), Dublin and Wexford General Hospital (WGH), Wexford. Nulliparous, pregnant women were recruited at approximately 32 weeks gestation from the hospitals' antenatal out-patient departments. Participants attended an antenatal class with a support partner, received a one-to-one session with a lactation consultant after delivery and had access to a breastfeeding-support clinic and telephone advice postpartum. Our aim was to understand maternal variables associated with breastfeeding self-efficacy and infant-feeding mode. We explored associations between continuous and categorical variables and any breastfeeding and exclusive breastfeeding using t tests and Chi-squared analyses. RESULTS: One hundred mothers provided baseline data; 64 provided follow-up data. Lower maternal age and non-Irish nationality were associated with higher antenatal breastfeeding self-efficacy. At the rural unit, mothers with tertiary education were more likely to be exclusively breastfeeding than those with secondary education. Though not statistically significant, more normal-weight mothers from the urban unit were exclusively breastfeeding at 6 weeks than overweight/obese mothers. CONCLUSIONS: Breastfeeding outcomes differed by maternal education. Future interventions should target mothers with lower education and possibly also overweight and obese mothers. Increasing breastfeeding self-efficacy, particularly among older and Irish-born mothers, may be a mechanism for improving breastfeeding outcomes.
BACKGROUND: Breastfeeding rates in Ireland are among the lowest worldwide. A feasibility study of a breastfeeding-support intervention explored maternal characteristics associated with antenatal breastfeeding self-efficacy and with infant-feeding mode at 6 weeks postpartum among women giving birth in Ireland. METHODS: We conducted a prospective study across two sites, urban and rural: The National Maternity Hospital (NMH), Dublin and Wexford General Hospital (WGH), Wexford. Nulliparous, pregnant women were recruited at approximately 32 weeks gestation from the hospitals' antenatal out-patient departments. Participants attended an antenatal class with a support partner, received a one-to-one session with a lactation consultant after delivery and had access to a breastfeeding-support clinic and telephone advice postpartum. Our aim was to understand maternal variables associated with breastfeeding self-efficacy and infant-feeding mode. We explored associations between continuous and categorical variables and any breastfeeding and exclusive breastfeeding using t tests and Chi-squared analyses. RESULTS: One hundred mothers provided baseline data; 64 provided follow-up data. Lower maternal age and non-Irish nationality were associated with higher antenatal breastfeeding self-efficacy. At the rural unit, mothers with tertiary education were more likely to be exclusively breastfeeding than those with secondary education. Though not statistically significant, more normal-weight mothers from the urban unit were exclusively breastfeeding at 6 weeks than overweight/obese mothers. CONCLUSIONS: Breastfeeding outcomes differed by maternal education. Future interventions should target mothers with lower education and possibly also overweight and obese mothers. Increasing breastfeeding self-efficacy, particularly among older and Irish-born mothers, may be a mechanism for improving breastfeeding outcomes.
Entities:
Keywords:
Breastfeeding; Breastfeeding self-efficacy; Feasibility study; Human milk; Intervention
Authors: Sharleen L O'Reilly; Eileen C O'Brien; Denise McGuinness; John Mehegan; Barbara Coughlan; Denise O'Brien; Marcelina Szafranska; Sophie Callanan; Shenda Hughes; Marie C Conway; Mary Brosnan; Lucille Sheehy; Rosie Murtagh; Lorraine O'Hagan; Stephanie Murray; Charmaine Scallon; Elizabeth Dunn; Paula Power; Marie Woodcock; Amy Carroll; Marie Corbett; Michelle Walsh; Regina Keogh; Fionnuala M McAuliffe Journal: Contemp Clin Trials Commun Date: 2021-04-08