Effectiveness of a theory-based educational intervention on enhancing milk donation behavior: a cluster randomized controlled trial

Abstract Background This study aims to assess the impact of an educational intervention based on the theory of planned behavior (TPB) on breastfeeding mothers’ knowledge, attitude, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control regarding donor human milk (DHM), intention to donate milk and milk dona...

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Main Authors: Shirin Shahbazi Sighaldeh, Maryam Moridi, Anoshirvan Kazemnejad, Vafa Ghorban Sabagh, Fatemeh Shateranni
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-03-01
Series:International Breastfeeding Journal
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s13006-025-00711-x
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author Shirin Shahbazi Sighaldeh
Maryam Moridi
Anoshirvan Kazemnejad
Vafa Ghorban Sabagh
Fatemeh Shateranni
author_facet Shirin Shahbazi Sighaldeh
Maryam Moridi
Anoshirvan Kazemnejad
Vafa Ghorban Sabagh
Fatemeh Shateranni
author_sort Shirin Shahbazi Sighaldeh
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background This study aims to assess the impact of an educational intervention based on the theory of planned behavior (TPB) on breastfeeding mothers’ knowledge, attitude, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control regarding donor human milk (DHM), intention to donate milk and milk donation behavior. Method This cluster randomized controlled trial (CRT) was performed on 67 breastfeeding mothers (intervention, n = 33; control, n = 34) in health centers affiliated to Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS) from April 2023 to October 2023. Four weekly 60-min educational sessions were conducted based on the TPB through lectures, group discussions, psychodrama method, videos and pictures display for mothers in the intervention group, while the control group received only routine care. The data collection tool was a researcher-made questionnaire based on the TPB. It assessed breastfeeding mothers' knowledge, attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control regarding milk donation, intention to donate milk, and actual milk donation behavior. The questionnaire was completed by participants in both groups before, immediately and three months after the intervention. Results The findings indicated that both the intervention and control groups were similar in terms of demographic and obstetrics variables. Additionally, before the intervention, there were no significant differences between the two groups regarding knowledge (P = 0.552), attitude (P = 0.734), subjective norms (P = 0.813), perceived behavioral control (P = 0.453), intention to donate milk (P=0.476) and actual milk donation behavior (P = 0.105). However, the intervention group showed significant improvements in the mean score of noted variables immediately and three months after the intervention (P < 0.05). Moreover, regarding the frequency of milk donations, three months after the intervention, eight mothers in the intervention group had donated milk, whereas none of the mothers in the control group had done so (P = 0.002). Conclusion Our findings showed that the TPB-based educational intervention significantly enhanced milk donation behavior among breastfeeding mothers. Given that donor mothers are crucial for the establishment and sustainability of human milk banks (HMBs), such programs should be implemented to increase milk donation rates and support the development of HMBs. Trial registration irct.ir (IRCT20230124057203N1) registered February 14, 2023.
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spelling doaj-art-ff26accc39a64ad38eabe3af410ee7b72025-08-20T03:41:40ZengBMCInternational Breastfeeding Journal1746-43582025-03-0120111210.1186/s13006-025-00711-xEffectiveness of a theory-based educational intervention on enhancing milk donation behavior: a cluster randomized controlled trialShirin Shahbazi Sighaldeh0Maryam Moridi1Anoshirvan Kazemnejad2Vafa Ghorban Sabagh3Fatemeh Shateranni4Midwifery and Reproductive Health Department, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Tehran University of Medical SciencesMidwifery and Reproductive Health Department, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Tehran University of Medical SciencesDepartment of Biostatistics, School of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares UniversityBreastfeeding Research Center-Family Health Institute, Tehran University of Medical SciencesMidwifery and Reproductive Health Department, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Tehran University of Medical SciencesAbstract Background This study aims to assess the impact of an educational intervention based on the theory of planned behavior (TPB) on breastfeeding mothers’ knowledge, attitude, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control regarding donor human milk (DHM), intention to donate milk and milk donation behavior. Method This cluster randomized controlled trial (CRT) was performed on 67 breastfeeding mothers (intervention, n = 33; control, n = 34) in health centers affiliated to Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS) from April 2023 to October 2023. Four weekly 60-min educational sessions were conducted based on the TPB through lectures, group discussions, psychodrama method, videos and pictures display for mothers in the intervention group, while the control group received only routine care. The data collection tool was a researcher-made questionnaire based on the TPB. It assessed breastfeeding mothers' knowledge, attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control regarding milk donation, intention to donate milk, and actual milk donation behavior. The questionnaire was completed by participants in both groups before, immediately and three months after the intervention. Results The findings indicated that both the intervention and control groups were similar in terms of demographic and obstetrics variables. Additionally, before the intervention, there were no significant differences between the two groups regarding knowledge (P = 0.552), attitude (P = 0.734), subjective norms (P = 0.813), perceived behavioral control (P = 0.453), intention to donate milk (P=0.476) and actual milk donation behavior (P = 0.105). However, the intervention group showed significant improvements in the mean score of noted variables immediately and three months after the intervention (P < 0.05). Moreover, regarding the frequency of milk donations, three months after the intervention, eight mothers in the intervention group had donated milk, whereas none of the mothers in the control group had done so (P = 0.002). Conclusion Our findings showed that the TPB-based educational intervention significantly enhanced milk donation behavior among breastfeeding mothers. Given that donor mothers are crucial for the establishment and sustainability of human milk banks (HMBs), such programs should be implemented to increase milk donation rates and support the development of HMBs. Trial registration irct.ir (IRCT20230124057203N1) registered February 14, 2023.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13006-025-00711-xMilk banksDonor milkBreastfeedingBreast milkNewbornHealth education
spellingShingle Shirin Shahbazi Sighaldeh
Maryam Moridi
Anoshirvan Kazemnejad
Vafa Ghorban Sabagh
Fatemeh Shateranni
Effectiveness of a theory-based educational intervention on enhancing milk donation behavior: a cluster randomized controlled trial
International Breastfeeding Journal
Milk banks
Donor milk
Breastfeeding
Breast milk
Newborn
Health education
title Effectiveness of a theory-based educational intervention on enhancing milk donation behavior: a cluster randomized controlled trial
title_full Effectiveness of a theory-based educational intervention on enhancing milk donation behavior: a cluster randomized controlled trial
title_fullStr Effectiveness of a theory-based educational intervention on enhancing milk donation behavior: a cluster randomized controlled trial
title_full_unstemmed Effectiveness of a theory-based educational intervention on enhancing milk donation behavior: a cluster randomized controlled trial
title_short Effectiveness of a theory-based educational intervention on enhancing milk donation behavior: a cluster randomized controlled trial
title_sort effectiveness of a theory based educational intervention on enhancing milk donation behavior a cluster randomized controlled trial
topic Milk banks
Donor milk
Breastfeeding
Breast milk
Newborn
Health education
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s13006-025-00711-x
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