Maternal Characteristics, Intention, Self-Efficacy, Perceived Social Support, and Exclusive Breastfeeding Practice:
Fang Li1,2,3, Cailian Huang4,5, Qian Lin5
1Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410011, China.
Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland)
|January 8, 2023
Summary
Exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months was achieved by 46.1% of mothers in China. Strategies promoting breastfeeding intention and self-efficacy are recommended to improve exclusive breastfeeding rates.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Maternal and Child Health
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Exclusive breastfeeding is crucial for infant health but rates remain suboptimal globally.
- Understanding factors influencing exclusive breastfeeding is essential for effective interventions.
- Previous research indicates a complex interplay of individual and social factors affecting breastfeeding duration.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the factors associated with exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months in Changsha County, China.
- To analyze the direct and indirect relationships between breastfeeding intention, self-efficacy, social support, program attendance, and exclusive breastfeeding.
- To provide evidence-based recommendations for enhancing exclusive breastfeeding practices.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving 414 mothers in Changsha County, China.
- Data collected via online questionnaires on demographics, breastfeeding intention, practice, self-efficacy, and social support.
- Structural equation modeling (SEM) used to analyze the associations between variables.
Main Results:
- The rate of exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months was 46.1%.
- Breastfeeding intention and self-efficacy were directly associated with exclusive breastfeeding.
- Perceived social support and attendance at breastfeeding programs were indirectly associated with exclusive breastfeeding.
Conclusions:
- Exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months is influenced by mothers' intention and self-efficacy, as well as social support and education.
- Comprehensive strategies focusing on enhancing maternal intention and self-efficacy are recommended.
- Interventions should consider multifaceted approaches, including education and health services, to support exclusive breastfeeding.
Related Concept Videos
01:25Models of Health Promotion and Illness Prevention I
2.1K
A model is a theoretical way to understand a concept or an idea. Models can overcome barriers to health regardless of diverse economic and cultural backgrounds. In addition, models make the task easier by providing different ways to approach complex issues. There are two major health promotion models: the health belief model and the health promotion model.
The health belief model (HBM) attempts to predict health-related behavior in specific belief patterns. According to the HBM, a person's...
The health belief model (HBM) attempts to predict health-related behavior in specific belief patterns. According to the HBM, a person's...
2.1K
01:27Parenting Styles
106
Diana Baumrind's four parenting styles — authoritarian, authoritative, neglectful, and permissive — each influence children's socio-emotional development differently.
Authoritarian Parenting
This style is strict and controlling, with little room for open dialogue. Authoritarian parents demand obedience and often enforce rules with minimal warmth. Children raised this way may lack social skills and initiative, usually comparing themselves to others unfavorably.
Authoritative...
Authoritarian Parenting
This style is strict and controlling, with little room for open dialogue. Authoritarian parents demand obedience and often enforce rules with minimal warmth. Children raised this way may lack social skills and initiative, usually comparing themselves to others unfavorably.
Authoritative...
106
01:30Socioemotional Development during Infancy
90
Socio-emotional development in infancy is primarily shaped by early emotional responses and social connections, with temperament playing a central role. Temperament refers to the consistent patterns in an individual's emotional and behavioral responses, observable even in infancy. By examining temperament, researchers can better understand an infant's unique ways of interacting with the world, influencing subsequent personality and socio-emotional growth.
Primary Temperament Types
Primary Temperament Types
90
01:20Attachment
104
Attachment is vital for infant development, as warm social interactions support growth and well-being. In a classic 1958 study by Harry Harlow, the significance of warmth and comfort in forming attachments was examined. Harlow separated newborn monkeys from their mothers and provided two artificial "mothers": one made of cold wire and the other covered in soft cloth. Despite the wire mother offering food, the infant monkeys preferred the comfort of the cloth mother, demonstrating that...
104
01:52Regression Toward the Mean
6.3K
Regression toward the mean (“RTM”) is a phenomenon in which extremely high or low values—for example, and individual’s blood pressure at a particular moment—appear closer to a group’s average upon remeasuring. Although this statistical peculiarity is the result of random error and chance, it has been problematic across various medical, scientific, financial and psychological applications. In particular, RTM, if not taken into account, can interfere when...
6.3K
01:30Socioemotional Experience and Gender Development
61
Social-emotional experiences and cultural influences play significant roles in shaping gender development. During middle childhood, from ages 6 to 11, peer groups become dominant in reinforcing gender norms. Children in this age group often align with same-gender peer groups, which actively encourage behaviors that conform to traditional gender roles. For instance, boys may be discouraged from engaging in activities perceived as feminine, reinforcing culturally dictated norms about masculinity...
61