Registered nurses´ experiences of educating newly delivered mothers in breastfeeding in Yogyakarta, Indonesia : An interview study

Abstract: Background: Exclusively breastfeeding a child during the first six months of life reduces the risk of mortality by 14 times. 42 % of mothers in Indonesia breastfed their infant exclusively in 2012. It is the registered nurses´ responsibility to provide information about consequences of their decision to the patient. Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate how registered nurses describe how they provide patient education about breastfeeding to newly delivered mothers and how registered nurses experience their role as a patient educator. Method: It was an empirical, qualitative study based on a focus group interview with four registered nurses and two midwives. The interview was based on a semi-structural interview design. The focus group interview was transcribed and analyzed using a qualitative content analysis. Result: Three major themes were found in this study, “strategically using different techniques while educating”, ”patient and family centered care” and “the registered nurse as a significant source of knowledge”. The first theme describes how the registered nurses used different techniques to encourage the mothers to breastfeed. The second theme describes the importance to include the entire family in the education and to adjust the education depending on the patient. The third theme describes how the registered nurses saw themselves as significant sources of knowledge and that it was their responsibility to provide evidence-based knowledge. Discussion: All registered nurses and midwives described the importance of evaluating the education. Families had a great influence over the patient in the Indonesian culture, hence, it was crucial to involve them in the education. The registered nurses felt that they were in the right position to give crucial information and education about breastfeeding.