The Model of System Development to Support Breast Feeding Newborn in Postpartum Ward (PP2) Pattani Hospital

Abstract

Breast milk benefits maternal and infant health in both physical and psychological dimensions. However, the breastfeeding (BF) rates of Thai mothers are lower than the national target for every developmental stage. This research and development project aimed to 1) study the situation of BF promotion, 2) develop a breastfeeding promotion model at Pattani Hospital (BPM-PH), and 3) evaluate the use of the BPM-PH. In the study phase of the project, 10 professional nurses working in the postpartum ward participated in focus group discussions and 5 postpartum mothers participated in individual interviews. Content analysis revealed that the nurses lacked BF promotion skills, although they exclusively managed, evaluated, and classifies infants with regard to BF after birth. This discovery led to the development of the BPM-PH which emphasizes maternal knowledge and skills. In the evaluation phase, the participants were purposively selected from the same nurses and from a group of 90 postpartum mothers and their infants. Data were collected using 1) the nurse's competency evaluation form for BF management, 2) the questionnaire on mothers' postpartum knowledge and BF practices, and 3) the mothers’ satisfaction survey. The content validity of the instruments were .89, .77, .85, and their Cronbach’s alpha coefficients were .78, .89, and .76, respectively. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and t-tests.  It was found that the nurses' BF promotion competency (M = 4.01, SD = 0.36) was higher (M = 2.55, SD = 0.55), t(8) = -19.47, p < .001, d = 3.02) after participating in the BPM-PH. Additionally, mothers who received BF education using the BF promotion model reported gaining BF knowledge and skills the highest level (M = 4.33, SD = 0.37) and that their satisfaction with the BF services was the highest level (M = 4.54, SD = 0.33). The results of this study are valuable for promoting breastfeeding among Thai mothers and guiding further research.