The effect of breastfeeding support provided to mothers with insufficient milk perception by telehealth application on mothers' feeding exclusive breastfeeding to their babies in the first 6 months

The aim of this study is to determine the effect of breastfeeding support given to mothers with inadequate milk perception through telehealth application on mothers' giving only breast milk to their babies for the first six months. The study, which was carried out within the framework of mixed method, is a research using an explanatory sequential design, and its quantitative dimension is a randomized controlled experimental design. The study was conducted in the maternity unit of a hospital between September 2021 and August 2022 with a total of 70 mothers (control group: 35; intervention group: 35) for quantitative data and 12 mothers from the intervention group for qualitative data. Data were collected by using "Personal Information Form, Perceived Insufficient Milk Scale, Breastfeeding Attrition Prediction Tool, Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale", the first follow-up was performed in the delivery room and the other follow-ups were performed via video call between postpartum days 2-5, 13-17, 38-40, 2-3 months, 4-5 months and at the end of the 6th month. In addition, the Level of Satisfaction with Telehealth Application Rating Scale was used for the intervention group and the Semi-Structured Interview Form was used for qualitative data. In the study, the intervention group was sent visualized messages, e-brochures, videos, plain text versions of trainings and live support with telehealth application at the determined follow-up frequency for 6 months after birth. Appropriate statistical tests and thematic analysis approach were used to analyze the data. In the quantitative findings of the study, it was found that the mothers in the intervention group were more likely to give only breast milk to their babies in the follow-ups from the 13th-17th days to the end of the 6th month, and the increase in the mean score of the Perceived Insufficient Milk Scale increased the positive sub-dimension mean scores of the Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy and Breastfeeding Attrition Prediction Tool Scale (p<0.05). The satisfaction level of the intervention group with the breastfeeding support provided by telehealth application was found to be high. Qualitative findings revealed that telehealth support increased mothers' health literacy regarding the perception of insufficient milk, had a positive effect on the breastfeeding process and they were satisfied with the support. In conclusion, telehealth was found to be an effective and satisfactory support for exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months. Keywords: Turkey, Nursing,Telehealth, Exclusive Breastfeeding, Self-efficacy