Knowledge, Intention, and Self-Efficacy Associated with Breastfeeding: Impact of These Factors on Breastfeeding during Postpartum Hospital Stays in Taiwanese Women.

Shu-Fang Vivienne Wu,Shu-Ching Chen,Yueh-E Lin,Hsiao-Yun Liu,Hsiu-Lan Lee

doi:10.3390/ijerph18095009

Abstract

Breastfeeding knowledge, intention, and self-efficacy affect breastfeeding rates during the postpartum period. Insufficient knowledge, lack of intention, and poor breastfeeding self-efficacy reduce the likelihood of breastfeeding postpartum. The purposes of this study were to (1) assess women’s intention to breastfeed and knowledge and self-efficacy regarding breastfeeding following childbirth, and to (2) identify the factors associated with postpartum breastfeeding during women’s hospital stays. This longitudinal study with a pretest and posttest design study recruited pregnant women from the gynecology and obstetrics outpatient departments and inpatient wards at a medical center in northern Taiwan. Demographic and obstetric characteristics were recorded, and participants were assessed using the Numeric Rating Scale, the Breastfeeding Knowledge Questionnaire, the Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale—Short Form, and breastfeeding status postpartum. Of the 120 participants, 25% reported breastfeeding during the postpartum hospital stay. Postpartum breastfeeding was associated with lower levels of education and higher prenatal levels of breastfeeding intention. Establishing a breastfeeding-friendly environment in the family and workplace may effectively increase continued breastfeeding.

Highlights

Introduction iationsBreastfeeding is defined as feeding infants breast milk exclusively, either directly from the breast or indirectly through expressed breast milk [1]
Breastfeeding during the postpartum hospital stay period was used as the dependent variable in the logistic regression analysis, and the results indicated that a higher level of education and a higher level of prenatal breastfeeding intention were associated with breastfeeding during the postpartum hospital stay (Table 5)
A total of 120 participants were included in this study, 25% of whom reported breastfeeding during their hospital stay

Summary

Introduction

Introduction iationsBreastfeeding is defined as feeding infants breast milk exclusively, either directly from the breast or indirectly through expressed breast milk [1]. The rate of continued breastfeeding is more than 70% within one year postpartum [2]. In Taiwan, the breastfeeding rates were 66% during the hospital stay [3], 61.8% at 1 month postpartum [4], 44% at 3 months postpartum [5], and 24.3% at 6 months postpartum [6]. The World Health Organization [11] and United Nations Children’s Fund [12] promote breast milk as the ideal food for infants, and recommend breastfeeding for the first six Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. Hormones, enzymes, and growth factors [7], these components help improve infant immune response against viruses and bacteria [8,9,10], promote sensory and cognitive development [8,9], protect against allergies [8,9], protect against risk factors of chronic disease [8,9], increase intelligence, and reductions in overweight and diabetes [10].

Objectives

Results

Discussion

Conclusion