Motivational Interviewing to Support Breastfeeding After Cesarean Section: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Buse Alış, Gözde Gökçe İsbirBackground:
Cesarean delivery is associated with delayed initiation and shorter duration of exclusive breastfeeding. Motivational interviewing, by addressing ambivalence and enhancing women’s confidence, may improve breastfeeding outcomes.
Research Aim:
To compare breastfeeding self-efficacy, breastfeeding importance and confidence, and exclusive breastfeeding duration between women who received motivational interviewing-based breastfeeding counseling and those who received standard counseling.
Methods:
A single-blind randomized controlled trial was conducted in Türkiye between September 2023 and June 2024. Women who delivered by Cesarean section (
Results:
Of the 74 women recruited, 63 completed the study. No significant baseline differences were found between the groups in sociodemographic or obstetric characteristics. At follow-up, women in the intervention group reported significantly higher breastfeeding self-efficacy, greater importance attached to breastfeeding, and higher breastfeeding confidence scores compared to controls (
Conclusions:
Motivational interviewing-based breastfeeding counseling appears to enhance maternal breastfeeding self-efficacy, perceived confidence, the importance attributed to breastfeeding, and exclusive breastfeeding outcomes. Results suggest that motivational interviewing may be considered as a promising strategy to support breastfeeding among women planning Cesarean delivery.