This study aims to evaluate the effects of a comprehensive breastfeeding education program based on a health literacy development strategy on maternal and paternal breastfeeding self-efficacy, fathers' breastfeeding support, parental health literacy, and breastfeeding outcomes. The sustainability of breastfeeding depends not only on maternal knowledge and skills but also on social support mechanisms and parents' ability to access, understand, evaluate, and use health-related information. Fathers play a crucial role in supporting breastfeeding, yet studies incorporating both fathers and health literacy-based educational strategies remain limited. Therefore, this randomized controlled trial was designed to determine whether a structured breastfeeding education program delivered to both mothers and fathers, in addition to routine postpartum care, improves maternal and paternal breastfeeding self-efficacy, fathers' breastfeeding support, parental health literacy, and breastfeeding outcomes.
This study sought to answer the following questions:
Inclusion Criteria:
Exclusion Criteria:
Participants and care providers were not masked due to the nature of the educational intervention. The outcome assessor was blinded to participant group allocation.
Participants received a structured breastfeeding education program based on a health literacy development strategy in addition to routine postpartum care.
Participants received routine postpartum breastfeeding care provided by the hospital.
Niğde, Merkez 51000, Turkey (Türkiye)