Effect of a Participatory Learning Capacity-Building Program on Knowledge, Perception, and Breastfeeding Skills Among Female Village Health Volunteers in Thailand

Background: Breastfeeding is a key strategy for improving maternal and infant health; however, Thailand continues to fall short of national and international breastfeeding targets. Village Health Volunteers (VHVs) play an essential role in community-based breastfeeding support, yet many lack structured training. Research Aim: This study examined the effectiveness of a participatory learning capacity-building program on breastfeeding knowledge, perception, and skills among female VHVs in Thailand. Methods: A quasi-experimental two-group, pretest–posttest design was implemented with 80 VHVs from Phra Ajarn Subdistrict, Ongkharak District. The experimental group received a participatory breastfeeding program consisting of experiential training, collaborative home visits, and follow-up evaluation. A validated assessment instrument measured breastfeeding knowledge, perception, and skills. Statistical analyses included paired-samples and independent-samples t -tests (α = .05). Results: VHVs in the experimental group showed significant improvements in breastfeeding knowledge (M_pre = 7.48; M_post = 8.88; p < .001) and skills (M_pre = 7.98; M_post = 9.28; p < .001). Perceptions toward breastfeeding showed no significant change ( p = .19). Post-intervention, the experimental group demonstrated significantly higher knowledge ( p = .05) and skills ( p < .001) than controls, with no group difference in perception ( p = .17). Conclusion: Participatory learning enhanced VHVs’ breastfeeding knowledge and practical skills, supporting its use in community-level maternal–child health promotion. However, perceptions remained unchanged, suggesting that attitudinal shifts may require longer-term or culturally integrated strategies.