THE EFFECT OF GRANDMOTHER’S SUPPORT UPON BREASTFEEDING PROCESS, IN TURKEY

AIMS: This study was carried out to define the support of the grandmother during the breastfeeding process. METHODS: This study with descriptive quality was carried out between January and July 2020 with 305 mothers of six-month and younger babies. The data were collected from four Family Health Centers with high population density in Erzincan city center. The data were collected with a questionnaire form created by the researcher. Percentage, mean, independent groups t-test, analysis of variance and Pearson correlation analysis were used to analyze the data. RESULTS: It was found that the mean age for the babies of the mothers was 3.57±1.97 and the mean time of exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) was 2.95±2.24. During the breastfeeding process, it was determined that 76.1% of the mothers got support from the grandmothers during the postpartum period, 66.9% got support for breastfeeding, baby care, housework and hosting visitors during the postpartum period, 28.5% were subjected to recommendations such as breastfeeding more often, expressing their milk, resting more, eating lactogenic food to have more breast milk and staying away from stress, 36.1% did not receive any comments on breastfeeding, 56.4% got nutritional advice rather than breast milk, 32.6% was recommended on water, sherbet and 73.8% had recommended complementary food. It was found that the grandmother’s support during the puerperium and their advice and comments during the breastfeeding process were efficient variables upon the EBF period up to the present (p<0.05). It was also determined that there was a positive correlation between the duration of EBF given by mothers and duration of the grandmother’s stay during the puerperium (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: It was determined that majority of the mothers had support from grandmothers during the breastfeeding process, took advice, did not comment, and these had a positive effect upon the EBF period up to the present. However, it was found that grandmothers gave nutritional advice rather than breast milk and majority of mothers gave the recommended nutrition.