Peran Komunikasi Konselor Laktasi dalam Meningkatkan Keterbukaan Diri dan Kepercayaan Diri Ibu selama Masa Menyusui (Studi pada Asosiasi Ibu Menyusui Indonesia Pengurus Daerah Sumatera Utara)

Abstract

Self-transparency and self-confidence constitute an important thing which should be possessed by breastfeeding women because they can influence the breastfeeding process. The objective of the research was to analyze the role of luctation counselors communication in increasing breastfeeding women's self- transparency and self-confidence during the breastfeeding period. The research used qualitative method with a case-study design. The research subjects were four lactation counselors from AIMI SUMUT as the key informants, their three clients, wo managers of AIMI SUMUT, and another lactation counselor as the supplementary informants. This research also used the theory of interpersonal communication in its implementation of counseling technique, using SOR theory to find out the result of the counseling given to breastfeeding women. The data were gathered by conducting observation and in-depth interview. The result of the field research showed that there were some roles of lactation counselors in increasing women's self-transparency: how to build and maintain the correlation between counselors and their clients, helping breastfeeding women solve their breastfeeding problems, becoming the persons who could help give solution and decrease their clients burden in breastfeeding. The role of lactation counselors in increasing their clients' self-confidence was as follows: first, providing knowledge of basic breastfeeding; secondly, giving support to their clients; thirdly, changing the attitude and action of their clients concerning breastfeeding behavior. The obstacles in communication between counselors and their clients were mainly concerned with psychological, processing, and physical obstacles.