Life Science Journal 2013;10(12s) http://www.lifesciencesite.com 202 Comparing the Effects of “Hands-on” and “Hands-off” Educational Techniques on Exclusive Breastfeeding among Primiparous Mothers Roya Baghany 1 , Seddigheh Azhari 2 , Farideh Akhlaghi 3 , Yaser Tabaraei 4 , Mohammad Reza Shokrollahi 5* 1 Midwifery M.Sc., Scientific Board of Sabzehvar University of Medical Sciences, Sabzehvar, Iran. 2 Midwifery M.Sc., Scientific Board of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran 3 Obstetrician and Gynecologist and Scientific Board of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences Mashhad, Iran 4 MS in Biostatistics, Public health School-Health School-Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences (SUMS), Sabzevar, Iran 5* Department of Pediatric infectious disease, Faculty of Medicine, Qom University of Medical Sciences and Health Services, Qom, Iran *Corresponding Author: shokrollahi.mohammadreza@yahoo.com Abstract: Exclusive breastfeeding is undoubtedly significant in the mother’s health and liveliness and the infant’s growth and development. Considering the important role of good training in promoting mothers’ awareness and, as a result, increasing exclusive breastfeeding; and taking adult learning principles into account, the current study was conducted in order to compare and contrast the effective of hands-on and -off educational techniques on exclusive breastfeeding among primiparous mothers. Method: The present study is a single-blind experimental one where 124 primiparous mothers were selected simply sampling and randomly divided into three groups. During the first two hours after childbirth, mothers in the two experimental groups were trained how to correctly hold their infants near their breast and breastfeed them through hands-off method by displaying pictures and hands-on method by individual consulting by the researchers. Participants in the control group received usual care in the ward. Participants were observed and tested during the first, fourth, and eighth weeks after the childbirth. Data collecting was carried out through interview forms, examination and observation, breastfeeding status list, and exclusive feeding forms. Collected data were analyzed through chi-square test, Kruskal-Wallis, Mann-Whitney, and independent t-test using SPSS 11.5. Significance level was assigned at 0.05 and the study power was 80%.Results:During the first, fourth, and eighth weeks, the frequency of exclusive breastfeeding was respectively 71.4%, 61.9%, and 47.6% in hands-off group, 47.6%, 26.2%, and 9.5% in hands-on group, and 32%, 22.5%, and 15% in usual group, which proved a significant difference regarding the three groups’ observation during those three periods (P=0.000).Conclusion and Discussion:Hands-off technique was associated with an increase in exclusive breastfeeding during the first 8 weeks after childbirth. [ Roya Baghany , Seddigheh Azhari , Farideh Akhlaghi, Yaser Tabaraei, Mohammad Reza Shokrollahi. Comparing the Effects of “Hands-on” and “Hands-off” Educational Techniques on Exclusive Breastfeeding among Primiparous Mothers. Life Sci J 2013;10(12s): 202-207](ISSN:1097-8135). http://www.lifesciencesite.com . 35 Keywords: exclusive breastfeeding; hands-on technique; hands-off technique Introduction Undeniable importance of breastfeeding for the mother and the infant’s health and liveliness is proved all over the world. As in a 1997 statement by American Academy of Pediatrics it is announced that breastfeeding is the golden standard feeding way for healthy and neonates; therefore, in most cases infants should be fed with breast milk until about the first 6 months after childbirth [1]. Breastfeeding is an acquirable skill and women should learn it through training, observation, and performance [2, 3]. Teaching about advantages of breastfeeding, especially breastfeeding technique in maternity ward, is critically significant and it helps breastfeeding prolong [4]. In this regard, in 1989 WHO and UNICEF introduced mothers’ training as an essential path to increase breastfeeding level [5]. Based on the principles of adult learning, methods of skill teaching include practical illustration, role play, audio tapes and visual videos, and modeling. Adults can learn best if they get involved in learning process. Therefore, it seems that utilizing educational methods in which mother’s autonomous performance is highly supported in learning process can have the utmost effect on leaning outcomes [6]. Educational programs and methods of enhancing mothers’ tendency to breastfeed during the first hours of their infant’s birth have been investigated in different studies. Moreover, various methods and programs have been taken into consideration in order to enhance mothers’ breastfeeding tendency and capacity [7]. An educational method to teach nursing mothers is hands-off technique that was proposed in 1995 [8]. In this technique, midwife helps to modify the infant’s holding state without touching the mother or the infant but through answering the mother’s questions brought to you by CORE View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk provided by Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences Electronic Publications