To Evaluate the Effect of an Educational Programme on Breast Care Attentiveness among Young Mothers after Childbirth

Abstract

The postpartum period, also known as the puerperium and the "fourth trimester," refers to the time after delivery when maternal physiologic changes related to pregnancy return to the non-pregnant state. From the day of delivery to six-eight weeks after delivery is termed as the fourth trimester. A few days after birth, the mother’s breast will swell with milk and become tender swollen, firm, and painful breasts. If the breasts are severely engorged, they are very swollen, hard, shiny, warm, and slightly lumpy to the touch. This is called engorgement. Breast care is necessary postnatally since this will avoid complications such as mastitis – infection caused due to trapped milk. Post natal education on breast care is much needed for all mothers. Mastitis, for example, is an infection that causes inflammation of the breast tissue. It’s most commonly caused by milk trapped in the breast. Untreated mastitis can lead to complications such as a collection of pus in the clogged milk ducts. Often, even well educated women seem to know very less about breast care post childbirth. Hence the present study was framed to assess on how much knowledge the new mothers possess about breast care (sample size: 60). From the results obtained we conclude that all the new mothers post the awareness rendered about breast care acquired good or adequate knowledge regarding the same when compared to pre-test. This emphasizes the need for public health interventions and awareness programs to educate as well as minimize the related complications.