Evaluation of the effect of breastfeeding education given on antenatal period on knowledge level of breastfeeding and breastfeeding self-efficacy scale

Objective: Every baby and child has the right to receive the nutrients they need. Breast milk is the only physiological food that contains the nutrients the baby needs. Breastfeeding training during antenatal period provided in increases the knowledge and self-efficacy of the mother about breastfeeding and contributes to raising healthy generations. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of breastfeeding training given to antenatal and postnatal women on breastfeeding knowledge levels and breastfeeding self-efficacy scale and to emphasize the importance of breast milk and breastfeeding. Materials and Methods: Our study was performed as a descriptive study. 409 women aged between 18-34 years who were admitted to the gynecology and obstetrics policlinics of Yıldırım Beyazıt University Ankara Atatürk Training and Research Hospital between October 1, 2018 and December 1, 2018 were reached All women who participated in the study were administered a questionnaire assessing their knowledge of breast milk and breastfeeding .Antenatal self-efficacy scale was applied to pregnant women and postnatal self-efficacy scale was applied to pregnant women. Scales were evaluated over 70 points Results: In the antenatal group; When the average of the breastfeeding self-efficacy scale scores of the group who received breastfeeding training and without breastfeeding training were compared, it was seen that the women who received training had higher scores and this difference was significant. (57,81 ±9,97; 47,22 ± 12,40). It was concluded that the level of knowledge was significantly higher in the group receiving breastfeeding training than the other group (7,61 ± 1,25; 6,77 ± 1,73 Awareness about the benefits of breastfeeding was higher in the group of women who received breastfeeding training than the women who did not receive training and this difference was statistically significant. (7,61 ± 1,25 ; 6,77 ± 1,73). In the postnatal group; A statistically significant difference was observed between the groups who received breastfeeding training and without breastfeeding training in terms of the mean scores of the breastfeeding self-efficacy scale (58,98 ±6,74; 49,44 ± 8,83).No statistically significant difference was observed between the groups who received breastfeeding training and without breastfeeding training in terms of breastfeeding attitude level. (5,74 ± 0,78; 5,51 ± 1,09). No statistically significant difference was observed between the groups who received breastfeeding training and without breastfeeding training in terms of average awareness about the benefits of breastfeeding (4,48 ± 1,59; 4,39 ± 1,86). Conclusion: Breastfeeding training in antenatal period has a significant effect on knowledge level, self-efficacy scale and awareness in antenatal women.However, it was concluded that the reflection of this knowledge to the attitude was not significant in women who had the same education in the postnatal period, and that the awareness scores and correct attitude rates did not differ between the mothers who were educated and not educated. Based on these results, it was concluded that it is important to start breastfeeding education in antenatal period, if necessary, the quality of education should be increased by using models or volunteer mothers, and more support should be given to the mother's breastfeeding process in the postpartum period Key words: Breastfeeding, antenatal and postnatal, self-efficacy