The Effects Of Empowerment In Conjunction With The Practical Skills Program Towards Knowledge, Attitudes And Skills In Promoting Exclusive Breastfeeding Among Postpartum Primigravida

Abstract

Abstract— Background and importance of the problem:  Exclusive breastfeeding, where mothers exclusively breastfeed their infants, is the most natural and beneficial way to feed a baby. Postpartum Primigravida are a key group to educate, change attitudes, and build skills to promote exclusive breastfeeding. This research aims to study the effects of Empowerment in conjunction with the Practical Skills Program (EPSP) towards knowledge, attitudes, and skills in promoting exclusive breastfeeding among postpartum primigravida, compared to the standard knowledge programs for breastfeeding as usual.

Materials and methods: The study was conducted on postpartum primigravida who were admitted to the postpartum Department, with a total of 90 people, between April and May 2025 using a quasi-experimental research method with 2 groups (Two group pretest-posttest design), which divided the sample into 2 groups with an equal number of 45 people each the study group and the control group. The study group received the Empowerment in conjunction with the Practical Skills Program (EPSP), while the control group received the standard knowledge program for breastfeeding as usual. The questionnaires used in the research were examined for content validity by three experts, including the personal factor questionnaire, the knowledge test in promoting exclusive breastfeeding (IOC=0.50-1.00), the attitude questionnaire in promoting exclusive breastfeeding (CVI=0.93), the skill assessment form in promoting exclusive breastfeeding (CVI=0.90), and in-depth  observation interviews using the LATCH Score assessment form with Cronbach's Alpha Coefficient reliability values of  0.71, 0.76 and 0.94, respectively. General data were analyzed using percentage statistics, means, and standard deviations. Research hypotheses were tested using Paired t-test and Independent Sample t-tests.

Results: The result showed that the average mean scores on knowledge, attitudes, and skills in promoting exclusive breastfeeding after being given the program in the intervention group were higher than the score of the capacity in all three domains in the control group, statistically significant at 0.05 (p-value =0.000 all).

Conclusion of the research: The research results concluded that the average mean scores on knowledge, attitudes, and skills in promoting exclusive breastfeeding after participating in the Empowerment in conjunction with the Practical Skills Program (EPSP) in the study group were significantly higher than the standard knowledge program for breastfeeding as usual in the control group at the 0.05 level. Accordingly, the Empowerment in conjunction with the Practical Skills Program (EPSP) for postpartum primigravida was able to promote knowledge, attitudes, and skills of exclusive breastfeeding with statistically significant at the 0.05 levels.