Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy for Mothers at the Bulili Health Center, City Palu, Indonesia

Abstract

Background: Breastfeeding plays an important role in building the relationship between mother and baby, also the baby's growth and development. Improving the mother's self-confidence during breastfeeding is a key to the success of breastfeeding. Exclusive breastfeeding in the working area of the Bulili Health Center is still low, about 37.17%. Breastfeeding self-efficacy (BSE) is a mother's self-confidence in her ability to breastfeed her baby. Objective: This study aimed to analyze the factors related to breastfeeding self-efficacy in the working area of the Bulili Public Health Center, Palu City. Method: This research design was quantitative with a cross-sectional design, involving 82 mothers who have babies aged 6-12 months in the working area of the Bulili Health Center. The instrument used in this study was a Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale-Short Form questionnaire containing demographic data, breastfeeding experience data, observations of others, verbal persuasion, physical and emotional conditions. The data were analyzed using SPSS and Fisher's Exact Test with a significant level of p <0.05. Results: The sample with good breastfeeding experience was 62.9%, those who got the experience of others in the good category were 61.0%, those samples with verbal persuasion were in a good category of 75.6%. All samples (100%) were in good physiological and emotional condition. Breastfeeding Self-efficacy with a good category was 90.2%. The statistical test showed that the respondent's breastfeeding experience, other people's experiences, and verbal persuasion did not significantly correlate with Breastfeeding Self-efficacy with a p-value <0.05. Conclusion: Breastfeeding experience factors, experiences of other people, physiological and emotional conditions, and verbal persuasion did not significantly relate to the breastfeeding self-efficacy (BSE) of mothers and babies in the Bulili Health Center Work Area, Palu City.