Increase Breastfeeding & Improve Infant Health: Invest in Education - Essay Sample

Introduction

There is a need for the medical fraternity to initiate more investment in providing breastfeeding education to increase the state of health of the infants. An established breastfeeding education strategy for post-natal patients can increase the breastfeeding incidence for approximately six months as compared to those post-natal mothers who do not receive the same. The crucial matter which the current research will focus on is debatable due to the inability of people to understand the significant role that breastfeeding education plays in enhancing the wellbeing of newborns, and the health of postpartum mothers. There is need for further research, depending on the literature review of the current research. The study will therefore fill the research gaps. The research will compare the females who receive breastfeeding education, and those who did not receive the same during postnatal stage.

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Background

Leruth, Goodman, Bragg and Gray (2017) asserted that the establishment of positive attitudes towards the breastfeeding concept had improved the state of health of infants. WHO recommends that mothers need to breastfeed their children for six months. Consistent breastfeeding for the infants accompanied by appropriate breastfeeding knowledge for the mothers plays a crucial role in the health and wellbeing of the newborns. According to Leruth et al. (2017), breastfeeding is a form of health promotion and disease deterrence for infants. Newborns benefit nutritionally and immunologically when breastfed well and appropriately. Breastfeeding is also critical for mothers because it enables them to achieve psychological, social aseptic and monetary paybacks through reducing the costs of social healthcare.

Significance to Nursing

The results or outcome of this research will be significant to nursing since it will provide information which will be crucial in formulating healthcare policies that are important for nursing practice. The nursing and healthcare fraternity will embrace the outcome of this proposal in their line of duty.

Nurses and other medical practitioners will gain the required knowledge and skills which they will apply in handling lactating mothers to improve the health of the newborn. The outcomes of the present research will also be crucial in eliminating the impediments linked to breastfeeding.

The research will also improve nursing and healthcare by engendering the anticipated health outcome. These are essential in enhancing the provision of quality healthcare through nursing practice.

Literature Review

There are several studies concerned with the role of provision of education to the breastfeeding mothers to enhance the well-being of the infants. To begin with, Wambach, Araronson, Breedlove and Domain (2018) researched to identify the fact that adolescent adult mothers are poor breastfeeders. Their fundamental interest was to examine the role of counselling and education interventions provided to the lactating mothers by lactation consultant counsellors facilitated the initiation rates and breastfeeding direction for the adolescent mothers.

On the other hand, Pakseresht, Pourshaban and Khalesi (2017) conducted a study to compare self-efficacy of postpartum breastfeeding during the first six weeks of post-natal to understand the factors that determine the success rates of breastfeeding. Pakseresht et al. (2017) realised a substantial diversity between multiparous and primiparous women. The study by Pakseresht et al. (2017) is limited since it fails to directly address the question of the provision of education through training to the post-partum mothers. However, it is relevant to the current study since it highlights the diverse aspects which affect the breastfeeding process, which many researchers failed to consider. Pakseresht et al. (2017) hinted that breastfeeding self-efficacy accompanies experience with no education.

Asare, et al., (2018) also emphasized that since breastfeeding is crucial to the health and wellbeing of an infant, there are minimum rates of the process in developing countries. Their principal interest was to question the form and nature of the present nursing practice and the socio-demographic elements which direct breastfeeding conducts. Asare et al. (2018) also focused on the case study of mothers who attended the Child Welfare Clinic in Ghana (Manhean). Asare et al. (2018) found out that mothers from the Northern Ghana tribal groups, and those who received proper education accomplishments were less likely to practice exclusive breastfeeding. Asare et al. (2018) investigated the issue which the current study focuses on but was primarily concerned by the developing countries. Through conducting the study, Asare et al. (2018) acknowledged that ethnicity and education are critical aspects of breastfeeding.

The above studies are directly linked to the current research since they all focused on the issue of the role of education among breastfeeding mothers. The pieces of literature only highlight the issues of concern and overreaching themes. They, however, fail to conceptualize the research problem. The literatures also do not satisfactorily answer the underlying inquiry, thereby exposing the research gap which the current study will fill.

Implementation Plan

Educational plan on breastfeeding ensures that all obstetricians, paediatricians and gynaecologists have appropriate skills and knowledge to support the newborns, postpartum mothers and families in achieving their breastfeeding goals. It also educates about the current disparities in breastfeeding and creates a culture of support as the norm within the medical community.

Evidence-Based Model

The research will employ construct evidence based-practice model which will look at the reliability, validity and applicability of the research question to clinical action. The construct evidence-based practice to examine the postpartum mothers' feelings and attitudes towards the support and education provided on breastfeeding.

Implementation Strategies

The study will develop a breastfeeding education plan, and support statement for initiation of physician education and support for breastfeeding medical trainees. The plan will be approved by the appropriate bodies. The study will also implement the outcomes through developing a model policy for providing support for postpartum mothers, breastfeeding medical students, nurses, residents and fellows.

Expected Outcome

The projected result sfor the final project will be increased in the quality of breastfeeding practice, which will enhance the health of the newborns. There will also be increased formula feeding and breastfeeding moms post-standardized breastfeeding plan.

Ethical Consideration

The research will consider the moral obligation of practitioners to ensure that their decisions are informed and reflect the best medical practices. The evidence-based research will employ informed consent from the research participants and the research assistants. Ketefian (2015) explained that the concept of informed consent relies on the principle of autonomy, and ensures that the participants are adequately advised of the potential risks and possible benefits of engaging in the research.

The research will also consider the ethics of breastfeeding and will operate on the basis that we are obligated to provide appropriate information for breastfeeding mothers to help them make informed choices.

Evaluation Plan

Determination for Success

Determination of success of the research will depend on the improved outcome to the stakeholders. The key stakeholders for the current research will be data collectors (research assistants), research participants (breastfeeding mothers), the government via the public health organizations and the non-governmental organizations. The success of the research will rely on the fact that breastfeeding mothers will experience improved outcomes through increased breastfeeding attitudes and knowledge. The success of the study also depends on the fact that prenatal mothers are in a position to receive appropriate breastfeeding education that will validate the importance of establishing a healthy public policy directed towards achieving positive breastfeeding outcomes.

Dissemination Plan

The process of disseminating the findings involves the application of standardized realistic approach which is imperative in establishing and evaluating awareness, attitudes and practices among breastfeeding mothers.

The research will also employ expert development project as a way of disseminating data to other medical practitioners who work to assist breastfeeding mothers and newborns. The researcher will present the outcomes of the RBP research to birth centre leaders and lactation consultants. The leaders will then disseminate the appropriate information provided to the medical society in the precise health centers.

The researcher will also utilize avenues such as scholarly journals. These enable affiliates of the prospective practice to employ the outcomes. Academic journals consist of gathering the outcomes of the EBP project more officially to spread to a broader audience. The framework also involves receiving credibility upon "peer reviewing" by other authors. The review is imperative because it proposes ways of handing out the outcomes more accurately.

Conclusion

Finally, the videotapes are also effective ways of keeping a record of the process of research. Consent is also crucial in the video recording. It is unethical to video record breastfeeding mothers without their consent. However, videos and photographs are significant since they help future practitioners to experience an abstract interaction with the researcher, and also engage in the research process.

References

Asare, B., Preko, J., Baafi, D., & Dwumfour-Asare, B. (2018) Breastfeeding practices and determinants of exclusive breastfeeding in a cross-sectional study at a child welfare clinic in Tema Manhean, Ghana. International Breastfeeding Journal 13 (12): 1-7. https://internationalbreastfeedingjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13006-018-0156-y

Ketefian, S. (2015). Ethical considerations in research. Focus on vulnerable groups. Investigacion y Educacion en Enfermeria, 33(1), 164-172.

Leruth, C., Goodman, J., Bragg, B., & Gray, D. (2017). A Multilevel Approach to Breastfeeding Promotion: Using Healthy Start to Deliver Individual Support and Drive Collective Impact. Maternal and Child Health Journal, 21(1), 4-10.

Pakseresht, S., Pourshaban, F., & Khalesi, Z. (2017). Comparing maternal breastfeeding self-efficacy during first week and sixth week postpartum. Electron Physician. 2017 Feb; 9(2): 3751-3755. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5410901/

Wambach, K., Aaronson, L., Breedlove, G. & Domian, E. (2018). A randomized controlled trial of breastfeeding support and education for adolescent mothers. Western Journal of Nursing Research 33(4):486-505. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/46578693_A_Randomized_Controlled_Trial_of_Breastfeeding_Support_and_Education_for_Adolescent_Mothers