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Educating fathers to improve breastfeeding rates and paternal-infant attachment

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Abstract

Objectives

To determine the effect of breastfeeding education provided to fathers on breastfeeding rates and paternal-infant attachment.

Methods

117 couples with their infants with the inclusion criteria: knowledge of reading, writing and speaking Turkish; living in the Turkish Republic of North Cyprus until their infants were six months old; and infants having no health problems preventing the early initiation of breastfeeding. Participants were divided into 3 groups (2 experimental and 1 control). Breastfeeding education was provided to the mothers (20 min/d) in the first group (n=38) and to the mothers and fathers in the second group (n=39) (20 min/d/parent) until they were discharged from the hospital. This education was supplemented by a training booklet. The parents and their infants were followed until the infants were six months old. Exclusive breastfeeding rates and Paternal-Infant Attachment Scale scores at six months were main outcome measures.

Results

Exclusive breastfeeding rates (56.4%, 33.3% and 12.8%; P<0.001) and mean (SD) Paternal-Infant Attachment Scale scores [89.51(7.05), 82.37 (12.80) and 73.38 (18.67); P<0.001] were highest in the group where education was provided to both mother and father.

Conclusions

Providing breastfeeding education to fathers increases exclusive breastfeeding rates and strengthens paternal attachment.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Health Sciences of Near East University, Nicosia, Turkish Republic of North Cyprus

    Emine Özlüses

  2. Faculty of Health Sciences of Atatürk University, Erzurum, Turkey

    Ayda Çelebioglu

Authors
  1. Emine Özlüses
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  2. Ayda Çelebioglu
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ayda Çelebioglu.

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Özlüses, E., Çelebioglu, A. Educating fathers to improve breastfeeding rates and paternal-infant attachment. Indian Pediatr 51, 654–657 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13312-014-0471-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13312-014-0471-3

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