The effect of breastfeeding education delivered through motivational interviewing on breastfeeding motivation, self-efficacy, and maternal bonding in mothers giving vaginal birth

This study aimed to examine the effect of breastfeeding education using the motivational interviewing technique on breastfeeding motivation, self-efficacy, and mother-infant bonding among mothers who had vaginal birth. Conducted as a randomized controlled trial at Gümüşhane State Hospital from May 2023 to August 2024, the study included 80 primiparous mothers divided into an experimental group and a control group, each with 40 mothers. The experimental group received breastfeeding training using the motivational interviewing technique within 20 to 24 hours after delivery and had four sessions on the 2nd-5th, 13th-17th, and 30-42nd days postpartum, while the control group received standard care. Data were collected using the "Maternal Information Form," the "Primipara Breastfeeding Motivation Scale (PBMS)," the "Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale (BSES)," the "Mother to Infant Bonding Scale (MIBS)," and the "Motivational Interviewing Importance and Confidence-Sufficiency Scale." Statistical analysis included percentage, mean, median, minimum and maximum value range, Student's t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, robust ANOVA, Friedman test, and variance analysis tests. Results showed that while breastfeeding education given with the motivational interviewing technique had a statistically significant effect on the mean scores of the sub-dimensions "value ascribed to breastfeeding" (F=6.193; p=0.006; η2=0.074), "self-effectiveness" (F=7.088; p=0.002; η2=0.083), and "midwife support" (F=22.302; p<0.001; η2=0.022) of the PBMS, it did not have any significant effect on the "expectation of success" (F=4.145; p=0.126). In the follow-up period, the mean total scores of the experimental group were statistically significant compared to the control group in terms of the mean scores of the BSES (F=3.650; p=0.041; η2=0.045) and the MIBS (F=8.584; p=0.014). The mean scores of the experimental group on the "Motivational Interviewing Importance and Confidence-Sufficiency Scale," after the training and during the follow-up period, were found to be higher than those of the control group (p<0.005). In conclusion, breastfeeding education given to mothers using the motivational interviewing technique had a positive effect on breastfeeding motivation (including value ascribed to breastfeeding, self-effectiveness, and midwife support), breastfeeding self-efficacy, mother-infant bonding, the importance attached to breastfeeding, and confidence and sufficiency in breastfeeding. Keywords: Breastfeeding, Mother, Motivational Interviewing, Self Efficacy