How Does the Breastfeeding Environment Affect Satisfaction? A Scale Development Study.

Abstract

Women need a safe and comfortable environment to breastfeed their babies. The quality of breastfeeding environments in social areas is important for women's breastfeeding satisfaction. The aim of this study was to develop a measurement tool for the evaluation of breastfeeding environments and to examine the impact of the quality of breastfeeding environments in social areas on breastfeeding satisfaction. The first phase of the study was conducted in methodological design and the second phase in cross-sectional design. The draft scale was applied to 365 women who had breastfeeding experiences in social environments during the postpartum 6 months-3 years period. In the first stage, scale development analyses were applied. In the second stage, the developed scale was applied to 255 women. Frequency, percentage, Cronbach's α coefficient, and correlation analysis were used in the analysis of the data. The Ideal Breastfeeding Environment Assessment Scale, consisting of 23 items and four subdimensions, was obtained in the study. As a result of the application of the scale in the second stage, the mean score of the breastfeeding environments evaluated by the women was 23.43 ± 8.36. A statistically significant moderate-weak correlation was found between the ideality of breastfeeding environments and the satisfaction levels of women (p < .001). It was determined that the developed scale is a valid and reliable measurement tool that can be used to evaluate breastfeeding environments. As the quality of breastfeeding environments increases, women's breastfeeding satisfaction increases.