Complementary Feeding Education & Fathers

Istanbul University

Status: Enrolling

Conditions: Nutrition, Healthy; Father-Child Relations

Treatments: Behavioral: Complementary Feeding Education

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06647875

IUICH_01

Details and patient eligibility

About

The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of complementary feeding education provided to fathers on father-infant bonding and infant feeding behavior. To assess father-infant bonding, the study will use the Father-Infant Bonding Scale and the Karitane Parenting Self-Efficacy Scale. For assessing infant feeding behavior, the Behavioral Pediatric Feeding Assessment Scale will be employed. These scales will be administered to participants both before and 3 months after the training.

Full description

The study aims to investigate the effects of complementary feeding education provided to fathers on father-infant bonding and infant feeding behavior.

This prospective, non-randomized controlled study was conducted with the parents of 6-month-old infants followed up at the Child Health Monitoring Polyclinic of the Department of Social Pediatrics, Department of Child Health and Diseases, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University. After being informed about the study and giving written consent, the parents of the infants included in the study were stratified according to the father's education level, birth order of the child, and self-efficacy scale scores, and then in order of admission to hospital assigned to the study and control groups. Infants born at term, exclusively breastfed for the first 6 months, without chronic diseases, and whose parents lived together were included in the study. Exclusion criteria included: food allergy, developmental milestones not appropriate for age, known swallowing dysfunction, psychiatric illness of either parent, a chronic illness in a sibling, adoption, and refusal to give consent.

During the 6-month check-up, parents who agreed to participate in the study completed a demographic questionnaire, the Karitane Parenting Self-Efficacy Scale (KPSCS), the Behavioral Pediatric Feeding Assessment Scale (BPFAS), the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) scale. The Father-Infant Bonding Scale (FIB Scale) was administered only to fathers during the same examination.

In the study group, both mothers and fathers received complementary feeding education, while in the control group, only mothers received the education. The education was based on the WHO Guideline for Complementary Feeding of Infants and Young Children 6-23 Months of Age and was delivered both in-person and via tablet. To make the education more understandable, infographics and visuals prepared using the WHO Guideline for Complementary Feeding of Infants and Young Children 6-23 Months of Age and the Basic Information for Families on Child Health and Safety in the First 5 Years booklet of the Child Health Association. At the end of the training, participants were given a booklet containing the infographics from the "Basic Information for Families on Child Health and Safety in the First 5 Years" booklet of the TChild Health Association.

At the 9-month follow-up, the KPSCS, EPDS, BPFAS, and GAD-7 scales were administered to both mothers and fathers, and the FIB Scale was administered only to fathers.

Enrollment: 112 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Infant born at term (>37 weeks)
• Exclusively breastfed for the first 6 months and has completed postnatal month 6
• Both parents live together
• Infant feeding is done by mother, mother and father together, grandmother, or caregiver
• Infant has no chronic disease

Exclusion criteria

• Infant has a chronic disease
• Infant has a known food allergy
• Developmental milestones are not age-appropriate
• Known swallowing dysfunction
• Either parent has a psychiatric illness
• Sibling has a chronic disease if applicable
• Child is adopted
• Consent is not given

Trial design

Primary purpose: Other

Allocation: Non-Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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112 participants in 2 patient groups

Intervention Group

Experimental group

Description:

During their infants' 6-month check-up, parents will be administered a demographic survey, the Karitane Parental Self-Efficacy Scale, the Behavioral Pediatric Feeding Assessment Scale, the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 scale. The Father-Infant Bonding Scale will be administered exclusively to fathers during the same visit. Subsequently, both mothers and fathers in this group will receive complementary feeding education.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Complementary Feeding Education

Control Group

Active Comparator group

Description:

During their infants' 6-month check-up, parents will be administered a demographic survey, the Karitane Parental Self-Efficacy Scale, the Behavioral Pediatric Feeding Assessment Scale, the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 scale. The Father-Infant Bonding Scale will be administered exclusively to fathers during the same visit. Subsequently, only mothers in this group will receive complementary feeding education.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Complementary Feeding Education