Breastfeeding self-efficacy, a predictor of early cessation of exclusive breastfeeding among mothers giving birth preterm

Hanne Kronborg*, Diana Skaaning, Anne Brødsgaard

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal/Conference contribution in journal/Contribution to newspaperJournal articleResearchpeer-review

Abstract

The aim was to describe the prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding among mothers of premature infants and investigate the extent to which breastfeeding self-efficacy is associated with early cessation of exclusive breastfeeding. The study population consisted of 136 mother-infant dyads with information on the outcome of exclusive breastfeeding and exposure of self-efficacy, recruited between September 2016 and February 2018. Data were collected via questionnaires with follow-up at 6 months. The statistical analysis included descriptive analysis with survival curves and logistic regression analysis. At 2 months, 101 (74%) premature infants were exclusively breastfed; at 4 and 6 months, 82 (60%) and 41 (30%), respectively. Higher levels of self-efficacy were significantly associated with breastfeeding exclusively for 2 months ( P = .03). In multivariate analysis, mothers who had a low level of early self-efficacy toward breastfeeding had 2½ times higher odds of breastfeeding cessation before 2 months (odds ratio = 2.63, 95% confidence interval: 1.16-5.96). The risk did not change when adjusted for potential confounders. Breastfeeding self-efficacy is an early predictor of exclusive breastfeeding for 2 months of the premature infant. Health professionals should use self-efficacy as a prognostic factor to identify mothers at risk of early cessation of breastfeeding and support those with low self-efficacy to increase duration of exclusive breastfeeding.

Original languageEnglish
JournalJournal of Perinatal and Neonatal Nursing
Volume38
Issue3
Pages (from-to)E18-E25
Number of pages8
ISSN0893-2190
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Sept 2024

Keywords

  • Adult
  • Breast Feeding/psychology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Infant, Premature
  • Male
  • Mothers/psychology
  • Pregnancy
  • Self Efficacy
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Time Factors
  • postpartum period
  • infant premature
  • self-efficacy
  • breastfeeding

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