Development of breastfeeding education modules for prenatal education

Abstract

Breastfeeding provides optimal nutrition for infants in order to support their healthy growth and development. Unfortunately, breastfeeding initiation and duration rates in Newfoundland and Labrador are among the lowest in Canada. In an effort to increase breastfeeding initiation and duration, public health nurses provide prenatal breastfeeding education to pregnant women and their partners. Prenatal breastfeeding education that is consistent, informative, and up-to-date allows pregnant women and their partners to make informed decisions about infant feeding. This education provides them with an opportunity to build breastfeeding self-efficacy, thus learning how to breastfeed and to cope with breastfeeding challenges. Bandura’s social cognitive theory was used to develop prenatal breastfeeding education modules for use by public health nurses in provision of prenatal education.