Father-Focused Breastfeeding Education and Breastfeeding Outcomes

Breastfeeding is recommended as the optimal feeding method for infants during the first six months of life. Support from fathers or partners plays an important role in initiating and maintaining breastfeeding. However, most breastfeeding education programs mainly focus on mothers, and structured education directed to fathers is limited. This study aims to evaluate the effect of a short, structured, father-focused breastfeeding education given shortly after birth on paternal support behaviors and breastfeeding outcomes. Fathers of healthy term newborns will be randomly assigned to receive either a brief breastfeeding support education or routine care. Paternal support behaviors will be assessed using a validated questionnaire, and infant feeding outcomes will be evaluated during follow-up. The results of this study may help improve breastfeeding support strategies by involving fathers more actively in the early postnatal period.