Publication:

Effectiveness of knowledge, confidence and breastfeeding practices among postnatal mothers: a structured educational interventional study

Background Breastfeeding is essential for infant and maternal health, but exclusive breastfeeding rates remain low due to lack of knowledge, cultural barriers, and insufficient counselling. Structured educational interventions can bridge this gap.

Methods A hospital-based interventional study was conducted on 165 postnatal mothers at LN Medical College and JK Hospital, Bhopal. Mothers received structured counselling sessions with demonstrations, interactive discussions, and educational materials. Knowledge, confidence, and breastfeeding practices were assessed before and after the intervention using questionnaires and confidence scales.

Results The study showed significant improvement in knowledge, confidence, and breastfeeding practices after counselling. Prior to the intervention, only 20% of mothers understood the benefits of colostrum, which increased to 100% post- intervention. Confidence in exclusive breastfeeding improved markedly, with 94% strongly agreeing they could successfully breastfeed their second child even if they had failed with the first. Improvements were statistically significant (p<0.05).

Conclusions Structured postnatal education effectively improves maternal knowledge, confidence, and breastfeeding practices. Incorporating counselling into routine postnatal care is a low-cost, high-impact strategy to enhance maternal and child health outcomes in India.