• Maira Pinho-Pompeu, Renan Massao Nakamura, Erika Zambrano, and Fernanda Garanhani Surita.
• PhD. Nutritionist, Departamento de Tocoginecologia, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas (SP), Brazil.
• Sao Paulo Med J. 2023 Jan 1; 142 (3): e2022647e2022647.

BackgroundExclusive breastfeeding is recommended for the first six months, and mother's age impact early weaning. Educational support and relevant information can increase breastfeeding rates.ObjectiveTo determine whether antenatal education enhances the maintenance, intention, and confidence in breastfeeding among adolescents.Design And SettingA prospective cohort study involving primiparous adolescents who gave birth at the Woman's Hospital (CAISM), Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Brazil.MethodsAdolescent mothers were categorized into two groups based on the location of prenatal care: those at the Woman's Hospital (WH) who received antenatal education, and at the Primary Care (PC) who did not receive antenatal education. All adolescents received breastfeeding orientation during their postpartum hospital stay. The groups were compared using the Student's t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, and chi-squared test. Log-binomial models were used to compare the groups at different time intervals.ResultsThe study included 132 adolescents: 59 in the WH group and 73 in the PC group. Six months postpartum, adolescents in the WH group demonstrated higher engagement in breastfeeding (P < 0.005) and exclusive breastfeeding (P = 0.04) than PC group. PC group showed greater lack of confidence in breastfeeding (P = 0.02) and felt less prepared (P = 0.01). Notably, all WH adolescents reported a stronger desire to breastfeed after antenatal education.ConclusionAntenatal education significantly improves the maintenance, intention, and confidence of breastfeeding among adolescents. This education approach can be implemented across all healthcare levels and should be made accessible to all women throughout the pregnancy and postpartum period.

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