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OpenTrials
Completed

NCT Number: NCT07461038

Effects of Spousal Participation in Breastfeeding Interventions at Different Perinatal Stages on Mothers' Coparenting Cognition and Infant Feeding Patterns

Problem: While partner support benefits breastfeeding outcomes, its impact across perinatal stages on maternal co-parenting perception is unclear.

Background: Spousal involvement plays a vital role in successful breastfeeding and maternal well-being.

Aim: This study aimed to examine the effects of spousal participation in breastfeeding interventions at different perinatal stages on maternal co-parenting perceptions and infant feeding practices for full-term infants.

Methods: Pregnant women who received antenatal care and delivered at our hospital, together with their partners, were recruited and categorized by the timing of partner involvement in breastfeeding activities: both antenatal and postnatal (Group A); antenatal only (Group B); postnatal only (Group C); and no antenatal education but routine postnatal guidance (Group D). Maternal breastfeeding self-efficacy and coparenting perception were assessed at 6, 12, and 24 weeks postpartum.

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Key information

Conditions

Breast Feeding Behavior Coparenting Feeding Behavior Social Support

Age range

21 year and older

Sex eligibility

Female

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Northwest Women's and Children's Hospital

Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710061, China

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Married couples, with gestational age between 12 - 14 weeks at enrollment for Groups A and B;
  • Planned discharge within 48 hours after delivery;
  • Mothers and partners expected to cohabit for ≥6 months postpartum;
  • Gestational age at delivery ≥37 weeks;
  • No diagnosed psychiatric disorders in either partner;
  • Voluntary participation with written informed consent from both mother and partner;
  • Neonates with Apgar scores ≥8 at 1, 5, and 10 minutes after birth.

Exclusion criteria

  • Maternal diagnosis of infectious diseases (e.g., HIV, hepatitis B);
  • Withdrawal from the study at any stage;
  • Failure to complete required questionnaires;
  • Loss to follow-up during the study period;
  • Concurrent participation in other interventional studies;
  • Major fetal anomalies.

Treatment and study plan

Parental Involvement in Breastfeeding Support

Behavioral

Multistage breastfeeding support involving fathers: prenatal education (14-37 weeks gestation, including manuals and videos), intrapartum 'three early' practices (skin-to-skin contact, early suckling, early milk initiation), and postpartum follow-up (48 hours to 24 weeks, including activity records, QR code resources, and weekly follow-up).

Maternal-only Breastfeeding Support

Behavioral

Routine postpartum breastfeeding guidance provided only to mothers (no paternal involvement), including basic breastfeeding skill training and regular follow-up.

Primary outcomes

  1. Maternal Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy

    Time frame: 6 weeks postpartum, 12 weeks postpartum, 24 weeks postpartum

    Measured by the Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale-Short Form (BSES-SF). This 14-item scale uses a 5-point response scale (1 = not confident at all, 5 = completely confident), with a total score ranging from 14 to 70. Higher scores indicate stronger breastfeeding self-efficacy. Measured at 6, 12, and 24 weeks postpartum.

  2. Spousal Involvement Frequency in Breastfeeding

    Time frame: 6 weeks postpartum; 12 weeks postpartum; 24 weeks postpartum

    Recorded via a self-designed activity log, including spousal assistance in breastfeeding preparation, positioning, and follow-up.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Coparenting Perception Level

    Time frame: 6 weeks postpartum; 12 weeks postpartum; 24 weeks postpartum

    Measured by the Brief Coparenting Relationship Scale (Brief-CRS). This 14-item scale uses a 6-point response scale (0 = completely disagree, 6 = completely agree), with a total score ranging from 0 to 84. Higher scores indicate better coparenting coordination between parents. Measured at 6, 12, and 24 weeks postpartum.

  2. Breastfeeding Type

    Time frame: 6 weeks postpartum; 12 weeks postpartum; 24 weeks postpartum

    Categorized as exclusive breastfeeding, mixed feeding, or formula feeding, based on maternal self-report.

  3. Neonatal Weight Gain

    Time frame: 6 weeks postpartum; 12 weeks postpartum; 24 weeks postpartum

    Recorded as the change in neonatal body weight (in kilograms) from birth to each follow-up time point, based on clinical follow-up records.

  4. Duration of Jaundice

    Time frame: 6 weeks postpartum; 12 weeks postpartum; 24 weeks postpartum

    Recorded as the number of days from the onset of neonatal jaundice to its complete resolution, based on clinical follow-up records.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Sichuan University

Other

Registry information

Official study title

The Effects of Spousal Participation in Breastfeeding Interventions at Different Perinatal Stages on Mothers' Coparenting Cognition and Infant Feeding Patterns: A Prospective Quasi-Experimental Study

Important dates

Study start
2020
Primary completion
2020
Study completion
2020
First posted
Mar 10, 2026
Registry last updated
Mar 10, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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