Psychometric Assessment of the Croatian Version of the Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale–Short Form

Abstract

Many mothers find it difficult to breastfeed exclusively for the recommended 6 months postpartum. The Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale-Short Form (BSES-SF) was developed to measure breastfeeding self-efficacy, an important predictor of breastfeeding outcomes. To translate and psychometrically assess the BSES-SF among women in Croatia. A convenience sample of 190 breastfeeding mothers was recruited from a Baby-Friendly hospital in Zagreb, Croatia. In-hospital mothers completed questionnaires that included the translated BSES-SF, Sense of Coherence Scale (SOC-13), and a demographic questionnaire. The follow-up questionnaires were administered to mothers at 1 and 6 months postpartum to determine their infant feeding method. The mean total score of the Croatian version of the BSES-SF was 55 ± 7. The Cronbach α coefficient for internal consistency was 0.86, suggesting good reliability. In-hospital BSES-SF scores significantly predicted breastfeeding duration and exclusivity at 1 and 6 months postpartum, providing support for predictive validity. The BSES-SF scores were significantly correlated with the total SOC scores (r = 0.32, P < .001) and the SOC subscales of comprehensibility (r = 0.35, P < .001), manageability (r = 0.26, P < .001), and meaningfulness (r = 0.20, P = .005), providing support for construct validity. This study provides evidence that the translated version of the BSES-SF may be a valid and reliable measure of breastfeeding self-efficacy among postpartum women in Croatia.