The Effect of Couple Counseling on Maternal Distraction and Attention Levels During Breastfeeding and Nonfeeding Childcare: A Randomized Controlled Trial in the Western Iran

Abstract

Purpose:

The purpose of the current study was to assess the effect of couple counseling on maternal distraction and attention levels during breastfeeding and nonfeeding childcare in mothers experiencing distractions in Hamadan, western Iran.

Methods:

In this randomized controlled trial, mothers attending comprehensive health centers for routine postpartum care who reported distraction during breastfeeding were enrolled. Participants were assigned via block randomization to an intervention group (standard care plus couple-centered counseling) or a control group (standard care alone). The maternal distraction was measured using the maternal distraction questionnaire at baseline, immediately post-intervention, and at two-, three-, and 4-month follow-ups.

Results:

The analysis included 64 participants in each group. At 4 months, 40.6% more mothers in the intervention group than in the control group reported not being at all distracted during breastfeeding, with a 36% difference in favor of the intervention group for very high attention. Corresponding figures during childcare were 42.2% and 37.5%, respectively. A significant interaction between time and group was observed for both maternal distraction during breastfeeding and during childcare (p < 0.001). In the intervention group, maternal distraction during breastfeeding decreased from 17.89 ± 2.53 at baseline to 8.31 ± 1.27 at 4 months, and during childcare from 18.03 ± 1.94 to 8.98 ± 2.06. In the control group, these scores decreased only slightly, from 16.84 ± 2.50 to 15.52 ± 2.37 for breastfeeding and from 17.84 ± 2.44 to 15.19 ± 2.29 for childcare.

Conclusion:

Our study showed that a couple-centered counseling intervention significantly reduced maternal distraction and improved attention during breastfeeding and childcare.