The Effect of Educational Intervention Based on the Theory of Planned Behavior in Pregnant Women and IndividualsAffecting Their Exclusive Breastfeeding: A Controlled Trial

Background: Breastfeeding affects long-term child health and improves the quality of their lives. This studysought to compare educational interventions based on the theory of planned behavior (TPB) in pregnantwomen and individuals influential to their exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) in the first six months of an infant’slife.Methods: This quasi-experimental study was performed from ۲۰۲۰ to ۲۰۲۱ on pregnant women, who wereat their > ۳۰ weeks of pregnancy, and relatives influential in their life in Jahrom, southern Iran. Samplingwas conducted by the stratified random method, and the sample size was determined as ۹۰ (۳۰ cases ineach group). The study consisted of two intervention groups and a control group. Data collection toolsincluded the demographic questionnaire and the standard TPB questionnaire for EBF. In the first stage, thequestionnaires were completed by all three groups. The second stage involved an educational intervention.The training lasted five weeks. In the third stage, the questionnaire was completed again six monthslater. The collected data were analyzed by SPSS ۲۱ using one-way ANOVA, chi-square, Mann-Whitney,Wilcoxon, and Kruskal-Wallis tests.Results: Based on the results, a significant difference was observed in intervention group ۱ in terms ofthe attitude construct (P = ۰.۰۰۹) before [Median (IQR) = ۳۴.۵ (۶)] and after [Median (IQR) = ۳۶ (۵.۲۵)] theeducational intervention. Similarly, a significant difference was found in intervention group ۲ regardingthe subjective norm construct (P < ۰.۰۰۱) before [Median (IQR) = ۲۵ (۴.۲۵)] and after [Median (IQR) = ۳۰(۴)] the educational intervention.Conclusion: Overall, in addition to pregnant women, their subjective norms should be considered inhealth education and promotion programs to improve EBF.

Keywords:

Pregnant women , Breast feeding , Health education , Attitude , Theory of planned behavior