An Intervention Program Based on Regular Home Visits for Improving Maternal Breastfeeding Self-efficacy: A Pilot Study in Portugal

In this pilot study, the breastfeed care plus intervention program was implemented to support women and their families in breastfeeding success. Primary interests were women’s self-efficacy in breastfeeding and exclusive breastfeeding. A pilot study was developed in the region of Aveiro–Portugal in two Family Health Units. The experimental and control groups consisted of sixteen women each, initially. Four home visits with assessment and guidance focused on breastfeeding support aimed at women and families were delivered in the experimental group, while the control group received conventional care. Both groups were followed between the 5th and the 120th day postpartum and were subjected to three evaluation moments. On the 120th day postpartum, eleven women completed the BCP intervention program (three women stopped breastfeeding), and nine women received conventional care (seven women stopped breastfeeding). Both interventions proved to be effective in improving the ‘perception of breastfeeding self-efficacy,' with higher scores being found in the experimental group (p < 0.001). The proportion of exclusive breastfeeding was also higher in the experimental group. The BCP intervention program, during the first 120 days postpartum, showed promissory results in improving ‘perception of breastfeeding self-efficacy’ compared to conventional care, favoring breastfeeding duration and exclusivity, and cumulative breastfeeding competence of women/families.