Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
This randomized controlled trial evaluates whether acupressure education provided to mothers within the first 48 hours postpartum improves exclusive breastfeeding rates at 6 months compared with standard postpartum care alone. Mothers in the intervention group will receive structured education on self-administered acupressure at selected points and will be encouraged to continue home-based practice, while the control group will receive standard breastfeeding support. Participants will be followed for 12 months to assess breastfeeding continuation, breastfeeding self-efficacy, breastfeeding quality, and breastfeeding-related outcomes.
Exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months and continued breastfeeding up to 12 months are strongly associated with improved maternal and infant health outcomes. Despite widespread implementation of Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative practices, early postpartum challenges often compromise breastfeeding continuation. Scalable, low-cost, self-care-based interventions that enhance maternal confidence and perceived control may support sustained breastfeeding.
This study is a two-arm, parallel-group, randomized controlled trial designed to assess the effectiveness of postpartum acupressure education as an adjunct to standard breastfeeding care. Eligible mothers will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to either an acupressure education plus standard care group or a standard care-only group. Acupressure education will include face-to-face instruction, printed visual materials, and a short instructional video, focusing on the acupoints CV17 (Shanzhong), ST18 (Rugen), SI1 (Shaoze), ST36 (Zusanli), and SP6 (Sanyinjiao).
The primary outcome is the rate of exclusive breastfeeding at 6 months postpartum, defined according to World Health Organization criteria. Secondary outcomes include any breastfeeding at 12 months, breastfeeding self-efficacy, breastfeeding quality, timing of complementary feeding introduction, breastfeeding-related adverse events, and maternal satisfaction. Analyses will be conducted using an intention-to-treat approach.
Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
| Label | Type | Description | Intervention Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acupressure Education Plus Standard Care | Experimental | Participants receive standard postpartum breastfeeding care in addition to structured education on self-administered acupressure. Acupressure education is provided within 48 hours postpartum and includes face-to-face instruction, printed visual materials, and a short instructional video. Participants are instructed to apply acupressure at the specified points twice daily at home throughout the postpartum period, according to the study protocol. |
|
| Standard Care Alone | No Intervention | Participants receive routine postpartum breastfeeding care and counseling according to institutional Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative practices. No acupressure education, materials, or reminders are provided. |
| Name | Type | Description | Arm Group Labels | Other Names |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Postpartum Acupressure Education Program | Other | Structured education on self-administered acupressure provided within 48 hours postpartum, including face-to-face instruction, printed visual materials, and a short instructional video. Participants are instructed to apply acupressure at specified points twice daily at home according to the study protocol. |
| Measure | Description | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| Exclusive breastfeeding rate at 6 months postpartum | Proportion of participants exclusively breastfeeding at 6 months postpartum, assessed by maternal self-report using 24-hour recall with additional validation questions, consistent with World Health Organization definitions. | At 6 months postpartum |
| Measure | Description | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| Any breastfeeding rate at 12 months postpartum | Proportion of participants providing any breast milk at 12 months postpartum. | At 12 months postpartum |
| Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale-Short Form (BSES-SF) score |
Not provided
Inclusion Criteria:
Exclusion Criteria:
Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
| Name | Role | Phone | Extension | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pınar Erdoğan, Assoc. Prof. | Contact | +905233646954 | drpinarerdogan@gmail.com |
Not provided
| Facility | Status | City | State | ZIP | Country | Contacts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Niğde Ömer Halisdemir University Hospital | Recruiting | Niğde | Merkez | 51240 | Turkey (Türkiye) |
Individual participant data will not be shared publicly. Data will be stored in a de-identified format and used solely for the purposes of the present study and related publications, in accordance with institutional ethics approval.
Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
| ID | Term |
|---|---|
| D001942 | Breast Feeding |
| ID | Term |
|---|---|
| D005247 | Feeding Behavior |
| D001519 | Behavior |
Not provided
Not provided
This is a two-arm, parallel-group randomized controlled trial with individual allocation in a 1:1 ratio. Participants are randomized within 48 hours postpartum to receive either postpartum acupressure education in addition to standard breastfeeding care or standard breastfeeding care alone. There is no crossover between study arms, and all participants are followed prospectively for 12 months after delivery. Outcome assessors and the statistician are blinded to group allocation.
Not provided
Not provided
Outcome assessors and the statistician will be blinded to group allocation.
|
Total score on the Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale-Short Form (BSES-SF). The scale consists of 14 items rated on a 5-point Likert scale (1-5), yielding a total score ranging from 14 to 70, with higher scores indicating greater breastfeeding self-efficacy.
| Baseline (≤48 hours postpartum), 1, 3, 6, and 12 months postpartum |
| Breastfeeding quality score (LATCH) | Breastfeeding quality assessed using the LATCH breastfeeding assessment tool. The LATCH score consists of 5 components (Latch, Audible swallowing, Type of nipple, Comfort, Hold), each rated from 0 to 2, yielding a total score ranging from 0 to 10. Higher scores indicate better breastfeeding performance. | Baseline (≤48 hours postpartum) and 1 month postpartum |
| Maternal breastfeeding satisfaction score | Maternal self-reported satisfaction with the breastfeeding experience, assessed using a single-item numeric rating scale ranging from 0 to 10, where higher scores indicate greater breastfeeding satisfaction. | 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months postpartum |
| Time to introduction of complementary feeding | Time from birth to first introduction of any food or liquid other than breast milk, as reported by the mother. | From birth up to 12 months postpartum |
| Bottle or pacifier use | Maternal report of any bottle feeding and/or pacifier use by the infant. | 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, and 12 months postpartum |
| Breastfeeding-related adverse events | Incidence of mastitis, plugged ducts, and breastfeeding-related healthcare visits. | From baseline through 12 months postpartum |