The Infant Feeding Intentions scale demonstrates construct validity and comparability in quantifying maternal...

Area of Science:

• Maternal and Child Health
• Sociodemographic Disparities Research
• Health Measurement Scales

Background:

• Understanding sociodemographic disparities in breastfeeding rates requires comparable research tools across ethnic groups.
• The Infant Feeding Intentions (IFI) scale quantifies maternal intentions to breastfeed, ranging from 0 (no intention) to 16 (strong intention for 6 months).

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the intra-ethnic and inter-ethnic validity of the Infant Feeding Intentions (IFI) scale.
• To assess the IFI scale's reliability and construct validity across diverse populations.

Main Methods:

• The IFI scale was administered to expectant primiparae from White non-Hispanic, African-American, Hispanic (English- and Spanish-speaking), and Asian ethnic groups.
• Principal component analysis was used to examine scale structure, and Cronbach's alpha was calculated for internal consistency.
• Internal consistency, construct validity, and inter-ethnic comparability of the IFI scale were assessed.

Main Results:

• Principal component analysis revealed the same two factors (initiation and continuation of breastfeeding) across all ethnic groups.
• Cronbach's alpha values ranged from 0.70-0.85 for initiation and 0.90-0.93 for continuation, indicating good internal consistency.
• IFI scores positively correlated with planned breastfeeding duration across all ethnic groups, demonstrating construct validity.

Conclusions:

• The IFI scale is a valid and reliable tool for measuring breastfeeding intentions in diverse populations, including English- and Spanish-speaking primiparae.
• The IFI scale can be effectively utilized in research to investigate and address disparities in breastfeeding practices.
• This validated scale supports research into sociodemographic factors influencing infant feeding behaviors.