Comparing Group Versus Individual Prenatal Care on Breastfeeding Practice and Motivational Factors

Heewon L Gray; Diana Rancourt; Saba Masho; Marilyn Stern

doi:10.1097/JPN.0000000000000769

Comparing Group Versus Individual Prenatal Care on Breastfeeding Practice and Motivational Factors

J Perinat Neonatal Nurs. 2024 Jan 10. doi: 10.1097/JPN.0000000000000769. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Heewon L Gray¹, Diana Rancourt, Saba Masho, Marilyn Stern

Affiliation

¹ College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa (Dr Gray); Department of Psychology, University of South Florida, Tampa (Dr Rancourt); Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond (Dr Masho); and Department of Child & Family Studies, College of Behavioral & Community Sciences, University of South Florida, Tampa (Dr Stern).

PMID: 38197803
DOI: 10.1097/JPN.0000000000000769

Abstract

Objective: Although breastfeeding in the first 6 months postpartum benefits both infants and mothers, breastfeeding rates remain low. This study examined whether group prenatal care was associated with an increased breastfeeding initiation and duration compared with those receiving usual, individual prenatal care. A secondary aim was to investigate whether sociodemographic and motivational factors were associated with breastfeeding initiation and duration across prenatal care groups.

Methods: Pregnant women in their third trimester (n = 211) from an innercity university medical center participated. Prenatal care type was identified from the medical chart, and data on breastfeeding duration at 1, 3, and 6 months postpartum were collected. Breastfeeding motivational factors were assessed with a survey. Logistic regressions and independent-samples t tests were used for data analyses.

Results: After controlling for demographic factors, group prenatal care was associated with increased breastfeeding at 6 months postpartum (odds ratio = 2.66; P = .045) compared with individual care. Breastfeeding intention (P < .001), competence (P = .003), and autonomous motivation (P < .001) were significantly higher, while amotivation (P = .034) was significantly lower in group compared with individual prenatal care.

Conclusions: Breastfeeding persistence was higher among women receiving group prenatal care, potentially due to motivational factors. Future studies should investigate how breastfeeding motivational factors could be effectively targeted in prenatal care to increase breastfeeding persistence.