Effectiveness of virtual lactation management upon knowledge and lactation practice among primi lactating mothers

An Experimental Study to Assess the Effectiveness of Virtual Lactation Management Upon Knowledge and Lactation Practice Among Primi Lactating Mothers at Selected Hospitals, Chennai OBJECTIVES: 1. To assess the level of knowledge on lactation before and after virtual lactation management among control and experimental group of primi lactating mothers. 2. To assess the lactation practice before and after virtual lactation management among control and experimental group of primi lactating mothers. 3. To determine the effectiveness of virtual lactation management upon lactation by comparing the level of knowledge and lactation practice before and after the virtual lactation management among control and experimental group of primi lactating mothers. 4. To determine the association between selected demographic variables and level of knowledge and lactation practice before and after virtual lactation management among control and experimental group of primi lactating mothers. 5. To determine the association between selected obstetrical variables and level of knowledge and lactation practice before and after virtual lactation management among control and experimental group of primi lactating mothers. 6. To determine the level of satisfaction regarding the virtual lactation management among the experimental group of primi lactating mothers. The conceptual framework for the study was developed based on the modified model of Wiedenbach’s helping art of clinical nursing theory. An experimental study of pre-test and post-test design was used. The study included 60 primi lactating mothers selected by simple random sampling. The present study was conducted at Andhra Mahila Sabha Hospital, Chennai. The variables of the study were virtual lactation management, knowledge and lactation practice. An extensive review of literature and guidance by experts laid to the foundation of development of demographic variable proforma, obstetric variable proforma, structured interview schedule, lactation practice observational checklist and rating scale on satisfaction of virtual lactation management. The data collection tools were validated and reliability was established. After two weeks of pilot study, then data collection for main study was conducted. The level of knowledge and lactation practice was assessed for control and experimental group of primi lactating mothers. The Virtual lactation management of seven minutes duration was provided for the experimental group. Then the level of knowledge and lactation practice was assessed again after 7 days for both the groups. The level of satisfaction on virtual lactation management among the experimental group of primi lactating mothers was assessed after one week from intervention. The data obtained was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. MAJOR FINDINGS: 1. Majority of primi lactating mothers were 18 -23years old (76.66, 83.33%), Hindus (83.33%, 96.66%), qualified upto secondary education (60%, 63.33%), from nuclear family (90.00%, 80.00%), residing in urban area (100%, 100%). Large percentage of them were unemployed (63.33%, 76.66%) in control group and experimental group respectively. 2. Majority of primi lactating mothers had regular antenatal checkups (100%, 100%), none of the mothers had practiced antenatal nipple exercises (100%, 100%) and most of them did not have any complications during labour (86.66%, 93.33%). Majority of them practiced breastfeeding (93.33%, 96.66%) and most of them practiced demand feeding (36.66%, 43.33%). About more than half of the babies had an effective latch (50%, 56.66%) and good sucking (56.66%, 63.33%) in control and experimental group respectively. 3. Majority of the primi lactating mothers had inadequate knowledge before intervention (80%, 93.33%) in the control and experimental group respectively and all of them had adequate knowledge (100%) in experimental group after intervention. 4. The mean knowledge level was slightly high in the post test (M=10.8, SD=2.119) when compared to pre test (M=10.7, SD=2.246) in the control group where as the mean level of knowledge was high in the post test (M=23.3, SD=0.97) when compared to pre test (M=10.2, SD=1.81) in the experimental group. 5. Majority of mothers in pre test had poor practice with regard to lactation (100 %, 100%) in the control and experimental group. After the intervention the lactation practice was good in (63.33%) lactating mothers in experimental group. Hence null hypothesis H01 was rejected. 6. The mean score of lactation practice in the experimental group was high in post test (M=19.13, SD=1.8) in comparison with pre test (M=7.3, SD=1.242). Whereas in the control group there was only a minimal increase in the score of lactation practice (M=7.5, SD=1.403) during post test when compared with pre test (M=7.4, SD=1.518). 7. There was no significant association between age in years, educational status, type of employment and type of family with level of knowledge in experimental and control group of primi lactating mothers. Hence null hypothesis H02 is retained. 8. There was no association between age in years, educational status, type of employment and type of family and lactation practice in control group of primi lactating mothers but there is significant association between type of family and lactation practice in experimental group of primi lactating mothers. Hence null hypothesis H02 was partially rejected. 9. There was no significant association between effective latch of the baby, type of delivery, initiation of breast feeding and frequency of feeding with level of knowledge and lactation practice in control and experimental group of primi lactating mothers. Hence the null hypothesis H03 was retained. 10. All the participants in the experimental group were satisfied (100%) with the virtual lactation management intervention. RECOMMENDATIONS: 1. The same study can be conducted with large number of samples to generalize results. 2. A comparison can be made between primi and multi gravidae mothers. 3. The same study can be conducted in different settings. 4. A comparison can be made between different types of educational programmes

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