Sage Journals: Discover world-class research

Abstract

A prospective correlational study was conducted to examine the influence of adolescent mothers' breastfeeding attitudes and confidence on breastfeeding initiation and duration. A convenience sample of 100 pregnant adolescents who were contemplating breastfeeding completed the Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale—Short Form (BSES-SF) and the Breastfeeding Attitude Questionnaire (BAQ). The BSES-SF was readministered during the first week postpartum to those adolescents who initiated breastfeeding (n = 84). Adolescents who were breastfeeding at the initial contact received a follow-up contact at 4 weeks postpartum. Comparisons were made between those adolescent mothers who initiated breastfeeding (n = 84) and those who did not (n = 16). Significantly more mothers with higher prenatal attitude scores initiated breastfeeding. Mothers with higher prenatal breastfeeding attitude scores and higher prenatal and postnatal confidence scores were more likely to continue breastfeeding to 4 weeks postpartum. Health professionals are encouraged to develop strategies to enhance breastfeeding attitudes and confidence among adolescent mothers. J Hum Lact. 24(3):268-277.

Un estudio de correlación prospectiva se hizo para examinar la influencia de las actitudes y confianza de las madres adolescentes en la iniciación y duración de la lactancia materna. Se tomó una muestra de conveniencia de 100 adolescentes embarazadas que completaron la forma corta del cuestionario de escala de auto-eficiencia de la lactancia materna (BSS-SF) y el Cuestionario de Actitudes de Lactancia (BAQ). El BSS-SF se re-administró durante la primera semana postparto a aquellas adolescentes que iniciaron la lactancia materna (n = 84). Las adolescentes que practicaron la lactancia en el contacto inicial se les hizo seguimiento y se contactaron a las 4 semanas postparto. Se hicieron comparaciones entre aquellas madres adolescentes que iniciaron la lactancia materna (n = 84) y aquellas que no lo hicieron (n = 16). Significativamente más madres con puntajes altos en actitudes durante el prenatal iniciaron la lactancia materna. Las madres con puntajes más altos en actitudes sobre lactancia durante el prenatal y puntajes más altos de confianza en el prenatal y postnatal continuaron la lactancia materna con mayor probabilidad a las 4 semanas postparto. Los profesionales de la salud deben desarrollar estrategias para estimular las actitudes sobre lactancia materna y la confianza a las madres adolescentes.

Keywords

breastfeeding attitudes confidence self-efficacy breastfeeding initiation breastfeeding duration adolescent pregnancy

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Health Canada. Canadian Perinatal Health Report 2003. http://www.phacaspc.gc.ca/publicat/cphr-rspc03/index.html . Accessed March 11, 2008.

Health Canada. Pro-action, Postponement and Preparation/Support: A framework for action to reduce the rate of teen pregnancy in Canada. http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/dca-dea/publications/reduce_teen_pregnancy_section_1_e.html. Accessed March 11, 2008.

Wambach K. , Cole C. Breastfeeding and adolescents. J Obstet Gynecol Neonatal Nurs . 2000;29:282-294.

Volpe E. , Bear M. Enhancing breastfeeding initiation in adolescent mothers through the breastfeeding educated and supported teen (Best) club. J Hum Lact. 2000;16:196-200.

Gordon M. Why breastfeeding is best for babies. Health Visit. 1995; 68:203-204.

Piovanetti Y. Breastfeeding beyond 12 months: an historical perspective. Pediatr Clin North Am. 2001;48:199-206.

American Academy of Pediatrics. Breastfeeding and the use of human milk policy statement. Pediatrics. 2005;115:496-506.

Canadian Pediatric Society, Dieticians of Canada, Health Canada. Nutrition for Healthy Term Infants. Ottawa, Canada: Minister of Public Works and Government Services; 2004.

Scott J. , Binns C. Factors associated with the initiation and duration of breastfeeding: a review of the literature. Breastfeed Rev. 1999;7:5-16.

10.

Williams P. , Innis S. , Vogel A. , Stephen L. Factors influencing infant feeding practices of mothers in Vancouver. Can J Public Health. 1999;90:114-119.

11.

Blyth R. , Creedy D. , Dennis C. -L, Moyle W. , Pratt J. , De Vries S. Effect of maternal confidence on breastfeeding duration: an application of breastfeeding self-efficacy theory. Birth. 2002;29:278-284.

12.

Blyth R. , Creedy D. , Dennis C-L. , et al. Breastfeeding duration in an Australian population: the influence of modifiable antenatal factors. J Hum Lact. 2004;20:30-38.

13.

Dennis C. -L, Faux S. Development and psychometric testing of the breastfeeding self-efficacy scale . Res Nurs Health. 1999;22:399-409.

14.

Dennis C. -L. The breastfeeding self-efficacy scale: psychometric assessment of the short form. J Obstet Gynecol Neonatal Nurs. 2003 ; 32:734-744.

15.

O' Campo P. , Faden R. , Gielen A. , Wang M. Prenatal factors associated with breastfeeding duration: recommendations for prenatal interventions. Birth. 1992;19:195-201.

16.

Papinczak T. , Turner C. An analysis of personal and social factors influencing initiation and duration of breastfeeding in a large Queensland maternity hospital. Breastfeed Rev. 2000;8:25-33.

17.

Dykes F. , Williams C. Falling by the wayside: a phenomenological exploration of perceived breast-milk inadequacy in lactating women. Midwifery. 1999;15:232-246.

18.

Noel-Weiss J. , Rupp A. , Cragg B. , Bassett V. , Woodend AK Randomized controlled trial to determine effects of prenatal breastfeeding workshop on maternal breastfeeding self-efficacy and breastfeeding duration. J Obstet Gynecol Neonatal Nurs . 2006;35:616-624.

19.

Creedy DK , Dennis CL , Blyth R. , Moyle W. , Pratt J. , De Vries SM

Psychometric characteristics of the breastfeeding self-efficacy scale: data from an

Australian sample. Res Nurs Health. 2003;26:143-152.

20.

Dai X. , Dennis CL Translation and validation of the breastfeeding self-efficacy scale into Chinese . J Midwifery Womens Health. 2003; 48:350-356.

21.

Molina Torres M. , Davila Torres R. , Parrilla Rodrigues AM , Dennis CL Translation and validation of the breastfeeding self-efficacy scale into Spanish: data from a Puerto Rican population. J Hum Lact. 2003 ; 19:35-42.

22.

Wutke K. , Dennis CL The reliability and validity of the Polish version of the breastfeeding self-efficacy scale-short form: translation and psychometric assessment. Int J Nurs Stud. 2007;44:1439-1446.

23.

Kearney M. , Cronenwett L. , Reinhardt R. Caesarean delivery and breastfeeding outcomes. Birth. 1990;17:97-103.

24.

Joffe A. , Radius SM Breast versus bottle: correlates of adolescent mothers' infant-feeding practices . Pediatrics. 1987;79:689-695.

25.

Ineichen B. , Pierce M. , Lawrenson R. Teenage mothers as breastfeeders: attitudes and behaviors. J Adolesc. 1997;20:505-509.

26.

Cusson RM Attitudes toward breast-feeding among female high-school students. Pediatr Nurs. 1985;11:189-191.

27.

Friel JK , Hudson NI , Banoub S. , Ross A. The effect of a promotion campaign on attitudes of adolescent females towards breastfeeding. Can J Public Health. 1989;80:195-199.

28.

Purtell M. Teenage girls' attitudes to breastfeeding. Health Visit. 1994;67:156-157.

29.

Yeo SA , Mulholland PM , Hirayama M. , Breck S. Cultural views of breastfeeding among high-school female students in Japan and the United States: a survey. J Hum Lact. 1994;10:25-30.

30.

Baisch M. , Fox R. , Goldberg BD Breast feeding attitudes and practices among adolescents. J Adolesc Health Care. 1989;10:41-45.

31.

Wambach K. , Koehn M. Experiences of infant-feeding decision-making among urban economically disadvantaged pregnant adolescents. J Adv Nurs. 2004;48:361-370.

32.

Dennis C. -L. Theoretical underpinnings of breastfeeding confidence: a self-efficacy framework . J Hum Lact. 1999;15:195-201.

33.

Bandura A. Self-efficacy: toward a unifying theory of behavioral change. Psychol Rev. 1977;84:191-215.

34.

Heaman M. Conducting health research with vulnerable women: issues and strategies. Can J Nurs Res. 2001;33:81-86.

35.

Ross L. , Goulet C. Attitudes and subjective norms of Quebecian adolescent mothers towards breastfeeding . Can J Public Health. 2002;93:198-202.

36.

Connolly C. , Kelleher CC , Becker G. , Friel S. , Gabhainn SN Attitudes of young men and women to breastfeeding . Ir Med J. 1998;91:88-89.

37.

Leffler D. U.S. high school age girls may be receptive to breastfeeding promotion. J Hum Lact. 2000;16:36-40.

38.

Martens PJ The effect of breastfeeding education on adolescent beliefs and attitudes: a randomized school intervention in the Canadian Ojibwa community of Sagkeeng . J Hum Lact. 2001;17:245-255.

39.

Greene J. , Stewart-Knox B. , Wright M. Feeding preferences and attitudes to breastfeeding and its promotion among teenagers in Northern Ireland. J Hum Lact. 2003;19:57-65.

40.

Nakamura SS , Veiga KF , Ferrarese SR , Martinez FE School girls' perception and knowledge about breastfeeding. J Pediatr. 2003;79:181-188.

41.

Lizarraga JL , Maehr JC , Wingard DL , Felice ME Psychological and economic factors associated with infant feeding intentions of adolescent mothers. J Adolesc Health Care. 1988;13:676-681.

42.

Neifert M. , Gray J. , Gary N. , Camp B. Factors influencing breast-feeding among adolescents. J Adolesc Health Care. 1988;9:470-473.

43.

Manitoba Centre for Health Policy and Evaluation. Assessing the Health of Children in Manitoba: A Population-Based Study. Winnipeg, Manitoba: Department of Community Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Manitoba; 2001.

44.

Park K. , Meier E. , Song W. Characteristics of teenage mothers and predictors of breastfeeding initiation in the Michigan WIC program in 1995. J Hum Lact. 2003;19:50-56.

45.

Polit D. , Beck C. Nursing Research : Principles and Methods. 7th ed. New York, NY: Lippincott William & Wilkins; 2003.

The Influence of Adolescent Mothers' Breastfeeding Confidence and Attitudes on Breastfeeding Initiation and Duration

Abstract

Keywords

Get full access to this article

References