The effect of midwife-provided breastfeeding education given to birth companions on breastfeeding self-efficacy and maternal anxiety in primiparous mothers

The Effect of Midwife-Supported Breastfeeding Education Given to Birth Attendants on Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy and Maternal Anxiety in Primiparous Mothers Aim: This study was conducted to determine the effects of midwife-supported breastfeeding education provided to birth companions on breastfeeding self-efficacy and maternal anxiety in primiparous mothers. Material and Method: A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 108 primiparous mothers (54 experimental, 54 control) at a private hospital in the Gaziantep city center between January 2024 and April 2024. Data were collected using the Personal Information Form (PIF), the Postpartum Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale-Short Form (BSES-SF), the State Anxiety Inventory (STAI- I), and the Continuous Anxiety Inventory (STAI- II). Data collection was conducted in two stages (the first stage within the first 2 hours after birth, and the second stage at 6 weeks postpartum). Breastfeeding education was provided by the researcher as a midwifery intervention to the companions of the mothers in the experimental group. No intervention was applied to the companions of the mothers in the control group. Results: A significant increase in the mean breastfeeding self-efficacy score and a significant decrease in the mean state anxiety score were observed in the mothers in the experimental group (p<0.05), while no change was observed in the mean trait anxiety score (p>0.05). A significant increase in the mean breastfeeding self-efficacy score was observed in the mothers in the control group (p<0.05), while no change was observed in the mean state and trait anxiety scores (p>0.05). Conclusion: It was concluded that midwife-supported breastfeeding education provided to birth attendants increased breastfeeding self-efficacy and reduced maternal anxiety levels in primiparous mothers. Keywords: Mothers, Midwives, Anxiety, Breastfeeding, Self-Efficacy, Primiparous."