Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy and Its Associated Factors in Women who Gave Birth in Kosar Hospital of Qazvin in 2016-2017: A Descriptive Study

Breastfeeding self-efficacy is a modifiable and effective factor in initiation and continuation of breastfeeding. So, modifying breastfeeding self-efficacy by identifying the affecting factors is one of the strategies to improve breastfeeding status. This study was conducted to determine the breastfeeding self-efficacy status and its affecting factors in Kosar Hospital of Qazvin in 2016-2017. This descriptive study consisted of 350 mothers who were admitted to the postpartum unit of the Kosar Hospital of Qazvin during the last 24 hours. The data were collected using demographic-obstetric questionnaire and short form of breastfeeding self-efficacy scale and evaluated using the independent t-test, one-way ANOVA and multiple liner regression. Mean and standard deviation of breastfeeding self-efficacy was 57.28±7.65. Among the factors studied, pariety (p=0.012), previous breastfeeding experience (p=0.001), planned breastfeeding type (p=0.008) and duration (p=0.025) and mother's satisfaction from infant feeding in the hospital (p<0.001) were significantly correlated with breastfeeding self-efficacy. Based on the results of this study, there are some factors that associate with breastfeeding self-efficacy and can predict it. We can modify the factors that affect breastfeeding self-efficacy by educating health personnel and conducting interventions in hospitals and health centers, and subsequently improve the breastfeeding status.