title: The effectiveness of health promotion materials and activities on breastfeeding outcomes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the effect of mothers receiving health promotion material and education antenatally and/or postnatally on breastfeeding outcomes in Perth, Western Australia.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 12-month longitudinal study was conducted in two public maternity hospitals in Perth, Western Australia, between 2002 and 2003. Data were collected on a consecutive sample 587 mothers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results showed that mothers who received an individual consultation or were involved in a discussion on breastfeeding antenatally with hospital staff were approximately 55% less likely to cease fully breastfeeding (HR 0.44; 95% CI 0.24-0.88) before 6 months, and 50% less likely to cease any breastfeeding before 12 months postnatally (HR 0.51; 95% CI 0.28-0.92). In the postnatal period, mothers who received instruction on positioning and attachment of the infant to the breast while in hospital were approximately 30% less likely to cease fully breastfeeding before 6 months (HR 0.66; 95% CI 0.45-0.99).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study suggest a positive association between receiving individualized breastfeeding information in both the antenatal and postnatal period, and breastfeeding outcomes.
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Curtin University of Technology, Perth, WA, Australia.
authors.forename: P K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Pannu
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Giglia
authors.forename: C W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Binns
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Scott
authors.forename: W H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Oddy
mesh_terms: D001315:Australia; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006771:Hospitals, Maternity; D006779:Hospitals, Public; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D009035:Mothers / Q000193:education*; D011181:Postnatal Care; D011247:Pregnancy; D011295:Prenatal Care; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D015397:Program Evaluation; D013664:Teaching Materials; D013997:Time Factors