Assessment of breastfeeding self-efficacy and effectiveness: A comparison of primiparous and multiparous mothers

Abstract

Breastfeeding self-efficacy is influenced by the mother's previous experiences, examples from other mothers, the social environment and the psychological state of the mother. The aim of this descriptive cross-sectional study was to comparatively evaluate the breastfeeding self-efficacy of primiparous and multiparous mothers and the factors affecting it. The study sample consisted of 280 mothers who gave vaginal birth in a state hospital between 16 February and 4 May 2019. The study data were collected using a personal information form and the Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale. In this study, the mean score of the BMI of primiparous mothers was 55.05±8.40 (Min:36 Max:70), while the mean score of multiparous mothers was 62.53±6.22 (Min:42 Max:70), and the difference between them was found to be significant (p<0.05). However, the difference between the planned pregnancy and the status of receiving prenatal care was also significant (p<0.05). Therefore, it may be recommended that health professionals should prioritise personalised breastfeeding education and counselling for primiparous mothers to increase their self-efficacy immediately after birth.