Abstract:

ABSTRACT Objective: This study was carried out to evaluate the effect of breastfeeding education given to fathers on fathers' knowledge level, mothers' breastfeeding self-efficacy and breastfeeding attitude. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted between December 2020 and April 2021 at the Women's Health and Diseases Clinic of the State Hospital with the women who gave birth and their partners. The study was 160 (80 pairs) for the intervention group and 160 (80 pairs) for the control group, with a total of 320 participants. In the collection of the data, Sociodemographic Data Sheet (SBF), Effect of Fathers on Breastfeeding Scale (BEEÖ), Breastfeeding Information Test for Fathers, Breastfeeding Attitude Assessment Scale (ETDE), Postpartum Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale-Short Form were used. Results: In our study, the sociodemographic characteristics of the fathers and their spouses, the characteristics of the participants regarding their babies, the characteristics of the fathers regarding breastfeeding and infant care, and the pre-test scores of the fathers on the breastfeeding knowledge level were similar in the intervention and control groups. The Breastfeeding Knowledge Test Total Last Test Score applied to the fathers in the experimental group after the breastfeeding support initiative applied to the fathers, the last test scores of the Fathers' Effect on Breastfeeding Scale Sub-dimension, the Postpartum Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale applied to the spouses of the fathers- Short Form Total final test scores were found to be significantly higher compared to all the last test scores applied to the fathers and their spouses in the control group. Conclusion: In our study, it was found that the training given for the intervention and control group was meaningful for fathers and their spouses.

Keywords: