Paternal knowledge, maternal self-efficacy, and exclusive breastfeeding following a digital paternal-support intervention: a quasi-experimental study

Evy Nurachma (Midwifery Study Program, Poltekkes Kemenkes Kalimantan Timur, Samarinda, East Kalimantan, Indonesia)
Diah Evawana (Midwifery Study Program, Poltekkes Kemenkes Kalimantan Timur, Samarinda, East Kalimantan, Indonesia)
Fara Imelda Theresia (Midwifery Study Program, Poltekkes Kemenkes Kalimantan Timur, Samarinda, East Kalimantan, Indonesia)
Elisa Goretti (Midwifery Study Program, Poltekkes Kemenkes Kalimantan Timur, Samarinda, East Kalimantan, Indonesia)
Lidia Lushinta (Midwifery Study Program, Poltekkes Kemenkes Kalimantan Timur, Samarinda, East Kalimantan, Indonesia)

MEDISAINS
Vol. 24 No. 2 (2026)

Background: Most breastfeeding interventions primarily target mothers, while evidence regarding digitally delivered paternal support and its effects on maternal breastfeeding self-efficacy and exclusive breastfeeding remains limited. Objective: This study aimed to assess changes in paternal knowledge and maternal breastfeeding self-efficacy following a digital paternal-support intervention and to identify factors associated with exclusive breastfeeding. Method: A quasi-experimental pretest–posttest study with a non-equivalent control group was conducted from January to March 2026 at Loa Bakung Health Center, Samarinda, Indonesia. Sixty mother–father couples were included, with 30 couples in each group. The intervention group received a digital paternal-support intervention, while the control group received routine breastfeeding education. Changes in paternal knowledge and maternal breastfeeding self-efficacy were assessed using paired t-tests, while factors associated with exclusive breastfeeding were examined using multivariable logistic regression. Results: Paternal knowledge and maternal breastfeeding self-efficacy increased significantly from pretest to posttest following the digital paternal-support intervention (both p<0.001). In multivariable analysis, paternal support was positively associated with exclusive breastfeeding (AOR=4.52; 95% CI: 2.81–7.25; p<0.001), whereas maternal employment was negatively associated with exclusive breastfeeding (AOR=0.45; 95% CI: 0.26–0.78; p=0.003). Maternal education was not significantly associated with exclusive breastfeeding (AOR=1.21; 95% CI: 0.61–2.40; p=0.575). Conclusions: Paternal knowledge and maternal breastfeeding self-efficacy increased following the digital paternal-support intervention. Paternal support was positively associated with exclusive breastfeeding, whereas maternal employment was negatively associated with this outcome. These findings support further evaluation of digitally delivered paternal-support strategies using comparative analyses that directly assess intervention effects.