The Associated Factors of Breastfeeding Behavior in Primiparas

Wednesday, 9 July 2008
Feng-Hsueh Li, RN, MSN , Nursing Department, Veterans General Hospital- Taipei, Taipei, Taiwan
Yu-Hsiu Kao , Institute of Health Allied Education, National Taipei College of Nursing, Taipei, Taiwan
Chen Chang , Nursing Department, Veterans General Hospital - Taipei, Taipei, Taiwan
Yeu-Shan Hsieh , Nursing Department, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan

Learning Objective 1: The learner will be able to know breastfeeding experience, self-efficacy, social support

Learning Objective 2: one month postpartum influence the breastfeeding behavior

This study aimed to survey breastfeeding experience, breastfeeding self-efficacy, breastfeeding social support and one month postpartum breastfeeding behavior in primiparous women as well as associated factors which influence the breastfeeding behavior of primiparous women.

Participants in this study were primiparous women who experienced no mother-infant complications during their hospital stay in the maternity wards of two medical centers in Taipei. The women completed a self-administered questionnaire one day before they were discharged from the maternity ward, and telephone interviews were conducted at one month postpartum to assess breastfeeding methods. In total, there were 181 usable samples returned which were analyzed using a variety of statistical analysis including distribution, percentages, average values, standard deviation, t-test, one-way ANOVA and logistic regression analysis.

Findings of the study revealed primipara suffering low-mid level breastfeeding problems, having mid-high level breastfeeding confidence, and having mid-high level breastfeeding social support. A relatively large number of primipara who breastfed exclusively one month postpartum rooming-in, intended to breastfeed one to two years postpartum, utilized breastfeeding exclusively, achieved greater breastfeeding self-efficacy, and received higher breastfeeding social support of the father, friends and family . Exclusive breastfeeding rates declined from 42.0% in hospital to 35.9% at one month postpartum. Logistic regression analysis revealed that breastfeeding exclusively while in hospital, higher breastfeeding self-efficacy scores and higher breastfeeding social support scores of the father, friends and family are significant predictors of breastfeeding behavior at one month postpartum. The results of this study can serve as a reference for on-the-job education about breastfeeding for nurse practitioners and could help to increase the rates and efficacy of breastfeeding in mothers who have given birth.