Effectiveness of Couple Class in Increasing Breastfeeding and Prevention of Breastfeeding in the Pandemic Era

Abstract

Background: Exclusive breastfeeding still often experiences obstacles. At the beginning of childbirth, especially in the first 7 days, breastfeeding problems often arise. The first 7 days of childbirth are a critical period for Lactation problems that often arise in the first 7 days after childbirth are the lack of knowledge of couples about lactation. One alternative solution to this problem is through couple classes. Couple classes provide education to couples since pregnancy. Education is not only about knowledge but also breast care practices. The purpose of this study was to analyze the effectiveness of couple classes in increasing breastfeeding and preventing breast engorgement. Method: The research design was a quasi-experiment with a pretest -posttest with control group design. The population was pregnant women in their third trimester and their partners. The sample was pregnant women and their partners who met the inclusion criteria of pregnant women and husbands living in the same house and were willing to be studied. The exclusion criteria were that the husband worked outside the city, did not participate in the entire series of research and experienced an emergency during research. The number of samples for each group was 25 people using a simple random sampling technique. The intervention group was given treatment in the form of a couple class given online via WAG and uring assistance once in the first 7 days after giving birth, the control group received treatment according to the applicable SOP at private midwife clinic. Before the treatment, a pretest was given regarding knowledge and attitudes about breastfeeding, then a couple class was followed for the intervention group, then a posttest was continued. Breastfeeding in the first 7 days used a checklist. Analysis: Differences in knowledge of breastfeeding using independent t-test (normally distributed data). Breastfeeding alone in the first week using chi square test. Differences in the incidence of breast milk stagnation between the couple class group and the control group using chi square test. Results: There was a difference in increasing knowledge and attitudes between the intervention and control groups (sig. value of each 0.000). There was a difference in giving breast milk only in the first 7 days between the two groups with a sig. value of 0.034. There was a difference in preventing breast milk engorgement in the two groups with a sig. value of 0.017. Conclusion and suggestions: Couple class effectively increases breastfeeding, infant sufficiency, and prevention of breast milk stagnation. Couple class materials provided online are quite effective and efficient during the Covid-19 pandemic.