Introduction: Breastfeeding self-efficacy is a potentially modifiable variable that predict the longer duration and increased exclusivity of breastfeeding. It is defined as a mother’s confidence in her ability to breastfeed her child. So improving mother’s confidence of breastfeeding by antenatal preparation can improve mothers breastfeeding confidence and thereby breastfeeding outcomes.The aim of the study is to assess the effectiveness of breastfeeding self-efficacy programme on breastfeeding self-efficacy and breastfeeding practice among prim gravida mothers. Material & Methods: An experimental approach with pre-test post-test control group design was used for the study. The studywas conducted among a consecutive sample of 60 primigravid mothers (first 30 in control group and next 30 in experimental group) attending Kamla Nehru Hospital, Shimla, (H.P). The mothers were recruited for the study on completion of 37 weeks of gestation. After collecting background information, pre-test breastfeeding self-efficacy was measured using Breastfeeding self-efficacy scale and then breastfeeding self-efficacy programme was delivered to the mothers in the experimental group. The post-test breastfeeding self-efficacy and breastfeeding practice was measured three days postpartum. Briston Breastfeeding Assessment tool was used to measure breastfeeding practice. Result: The breastfeeding self-efficacy measured before the intervention shows that 7% of mothers had low self-efficacy and 93% had medium self-efficacy (n=60) and the mean self-efficacy score was 24.8±4.8 (max score - 70). There was no significant difference in breastfeeding self-efficacy between experimental (24.53±4.6)and control group (25.06± 4.7) in the pre-test (0.677). In the post-test, the breastfeeding self-efficacy of the experimental group (63.96±2.5) was significantly higher than the control group (43.90±5.0) at p <0.001. The breastfeeding practice (max score- 8) measured on the third day postpartum was also significantly higher in experimental group (6.66±.80) than the control group (2.23±.97) at p<0.001. A positive correlation was observed between breastfeeding self-efficacy and breastfeeding practice (r=0.8, p<0.001). Conclusion: The results of the study suggested that breastfeeding self-efficacy can be improved through proper education and support during antenatal period. Improving breastfeeding self-efficacy helps to improve breastfeeding practice and thereby breastfeeding outcomes. 

Keywords: Breast Feeding; Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy;Breastfeeding Programme; Breastfeeding Practice.