Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale-Short Form Scores Research Articles

Psychometric Testing of the Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale-Short Form Among Adolescents

This study aimed to (a) psychometrically assess the Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale-Short Form (BSES-SF) antenatally and postnatally among adolescents, and (b) examine the relationship between breast-feeding self-efficacy and adolescent demographic variables. The BSES-SF is used internationally but has not been psychometrically tested with an adolescent population. A methodological study was conducted in which 103 pregnant adolescents were recruited from two prenatal clinics at a tertiary care setting in western Canada. The BSES-SF was administered at 34 weeks' gestation and again at 1 and 4 weeks postpartum. The Cronbach's alpha coefficient was .84 for the antenatal assessment and .93 for the postnatal assessment. Antenatal BSES-SF scores significantly predicted breast-feeding initiation, whereas antenatal and postnatal scores predicted duration and exclusivity to 4 weeks postpartum. Other reliability and validity results are consistent with previous research with adult samples. Study findings indicate prenatal classes and professional support may be particularly important sources of information to increase adolescent breast-feeding self-efficacy. Results provide evidence that the scale may be a valid and reliable measure of breast-feeding self-efficacy among adolescents, predicting breast-feeding initiation, duration, and exclusivity.

The Correlation Between Breastfeeding and Maternal Quality of Life in Southern Brazil

This study examined the relationship between the breastfeeding efficacy and quality of life (QoL) in a sample of 89 mothers from southern Brazil. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first study to explore correlations between maternal QoL and breastfeeding efficacy in Brazil. Research participants completed the Portuguese version of the World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF and Multicultural Quality of Life Index questionnaires. Breastfeeding efficacy was evaluated through the Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale-Short Form (BSES-SF). Correlations between the scores of the QoL instruments and the BSES-SF were examined using Pearson product-moment correlation coefficients. There were significant correlations among the scores of the two QoL questionnaires and the BSES-SF. Multiple regression analysis revealed that both QoL instruments significantly predicted BSES-SF scores. Neither socioeconomic status nor level of educational attainment was a significant predictor of breastfeeding efficacy. The results from the present study indicate that breastfeeding efficacy is significantly related to QoL among mothers in southern Brazil. The association between QoL and breastfeeding efficacy appears to be independent from any effect of socioeconomic status or level of educational achievement.

Development and evaluation of a self care program on breastfeeding in Japan: A quasi-experimental study

BackgroundAlthough the importance of breastfeeding is well known in Japan, in recent years less than 50% of mothers were fully breastfeeding at one month after birth. The purpose of this study was to develop a self-care program for breastfeeding aimed at increasing mothers' breastfeeding confidence and to evaluate its effectiveness.MethodsA quasi-experimental pretest-posttest design was conducted in Japan. The intervention, a breastfeeding self-care program, was created to improve mothers' self-efficacy for breastfeeding. This Breastfeeding Self-Care Program included: information on the advantages and basics of breastfeeding, a breastfeeding checklist to evaluate breastfeeding by mothers and midwives, and a pamphlet and audiovisual materials on breastfeeding. Mothers received this program during their postpartum hospital stay.A convenience sample of 117 primiparous women was recruited at two clinical sites from October 2007 to March 2008. The intervention group (n = 55), who gave birth in three odd-numbered months, received standard care and the Breastfeeding Self-Care Program while the control group (n = 62) gave birth in three even numbered months and received standard breastfeeding care.To evaluate the effectiveness of the Breastfeeding Self-Care Program, breastfeeding self-efficacy and breastfeeding rate were measured early postpartum, before the intervention, and after the intervention at one month postpartum. The study used the Japanese version of The Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale Short Form (BSES-SF) to measure self-efficacy.ResultsThe BSES-SF score of the intervention group rose significantly from 34.8 at early postpartum to 49.9 at one month after birth (p < 0.01). For the control group, the score rose from 39.5 at early postpartum to 46.5 at one month after birth (p = 0.03). The early postpartum fully breastfeeding rate was 90% for the intervention group and 89% for the control group. At one month postpartum, the fully breastfeeding rate declined significantly to 65% for the control group compared to 90% for the intervention group (p = 0.02).ConclusionResults indicate that the Breastfeeding Self-Care Program increased mothers' self-efficacy for breastfeeding and had a positive effect on the continuation of breastfeeding.Trial Registration NumberUMIN000003517

Translation and psychometric assessment of the Breast-feeding Self-Efficacy Scale—Short Form among pregnant and postnatal women in Turkey

Backgroundmost women stop breast feeding before the recommended 6 months post partum. If health professionals are to improve low breast-feeding duration and exclusivity rates, they need to assess high-risk women reliably and identify predisposing factors amenable to intervention. One possible modifiable variable is breast-feeding confidence. The Breast-feeding Self-Efficacy Scale—Short Form (BSES-SF) is a 14-item measure designed to assess a mother's confidence in her ability to breast feed her baby. Objectivesto translate the BSES-SF into Turkish and assess its psychometric properties among women in the antenatal and postnatal periods. Designa methodological study to assess the reliability, validity and predictive value of the BSES-SF. Settingtwo private and two public hospitals and their outpatient health clinics in Izmir, Turkey. Participants144 pregnant women and 150 postnatal breast-feeding mothers were recruited using convenience sampling. Methodsfollowing back-translation procedures, questionnaires were completed in the third trimester by pregnant women and in the hospital by postnatal women. All mothers were telephoned at approximately 12 weeks after the birth to determine how they were feeding their babies. ResultsCronbach's alpha coefficient for internal consistency was 0.87 antenatally and 0.86 postnatally. Antenatal and postnatal BSES-SF scores were significant predictors of breast-feeding duration and exclusivity at 12 weeks after the birth. Differences were found between antenatal and postnatal BSES-SF scores for mothers with previous breast-feeding experience compared with scores for mothers with no breast-feeding experience. Demographic response patterns suggest that the BSES-SF is a unique tool to identify pregnant women and new mothers at risk of early cessation of breast feeding. Conclusionsthis study provides evidence that the translated version of the BSES-SF may be a valid and reliable measure of breast-feeding self-efficacy among a perinatal sample in Turkey.

Psychometric Properties of the Breastfeeding Self‐Efficacy Scale‐ Short Form in an Ethnically Diverse U.K. Sample

To psychometrically assess the Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale-Short Form (BSES-SF) among a multicultural U.K. sample and to examine the relationship between breastfeeding self-efficacy and maternal demographic variables. A cohort study where breastfeeding women completed questionnaires in-hospital and at 4 weeks postpartum. 165 breastfeeding women at the maternity ward in Birmingham Women's Hospital inpatient department. BSES-SF. The Cronbach's alpha co-efficient was .90 and evidence for predictive validity was demonstrated through exclusively breastfeeding mothers at 4 weeks postpartum having significantly higher in-hospital BSES-SF scores (M=49.4, SD=12.9) than mothers who were partially breastfeeding (M=44.7, SD=9.5) or bottle-feeding, M=42.4, SD=11.7; F(2)=1.62, p<.001. Caucasian mothers had significantly lower mean scores (M=44.4, SD=12.1) than those of other ethnicity, M=48.4, SD=12.9, t(163)=-2.06, p=.04. This study builds upon previous research and provides additional evidence suggesting that the BSES-SF has sound psychometric properties and can be utilized among diverse samples, including Southeast Asian mothers.

The reliability and validity of the Polish version of the Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale-Short Form: Translation and psychometric assessment

Background The majority of women discontinue breastfeeding before the recommended 6 months postpartum. If health professionals are to improve low breastfeeding duration and exclusivity rates, they need to reliably assess high-risk women and identify predisposing factors that are amenable to intervention. One possible modifiable variable is breastfeeding confidence. The Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale Short Form (BSES-SF) is a 14-item measure designed to assess a mother's confidence in her ability to breastfeed her baby. Objectives To translate the BSES-SF into Polish and assess its psychometric properties among breastfeeding mothers. Design Methodological study. Setting Five hospitals in Lodz Poland. Participants Using convenience sampling, 105 in-hospital breastfeeding mothers were recruited. Methods Following back-translation procedures, mothers completed questionnaires in-hospital and at 8 and 16 weeks postpartum. Results The Cronbach's α coefficient for internal consistency was 0.89. In-hospital BSES-SF scores significantly predicted breastfeeding duration and exclusivity at 8 and 16 weeks postpartum. Demographic response patterns suggested the BSES-SF is a unique tool to identify breastfeeding mothers at risk of prematurely discontinuing. Conclusions This study provides evidence that the translated version of the BSES-SF may be a valid and reliable measure of breastfeeding self-efficacy among a sample of mothers in Lodz Poland.