Determinants of breastfeeding attitudes of mothers in Jordan: A cross-sectional study

Breastfeeding provides the optimal nutrition for an infant. However, breastfeeding practice is on decline globally. Attitude toward breastfeeding may determine the practice. This study aimed to examine postnatal mothers' attitude to breastfeeding and its determinants. A cross-sectional study was conducted, and data on attitude were collected using the Iowa Infant Feeding Attitude Scale (IIFAS). A convenience sample of 301 postnatal women were recruited from a major referral hospital in Jordan. Data on sociodemographic characteristics, pregnancy and delivery outcomes were collected. SPSS was used to analyze the data and identify the determinants of attitudes to breastfeeding. The mean total attitude score for participants was 65.0 ±7.15, which is close to the upper limit of the neutral attitude range. Factors associated with attitude that is positive to breastfeeding were high income (p = 0.048), pregnancy complications (p = 0.049), delivery complications (p = 0.008), prematurity (p = 0.042), intention to breastfeed (p = 0.002) and willingness to breastfeed (p = 0.005). With binary logistic regression modelling, determinants of attitude positive to breastfeeding were highest income level and willingness to breastfeed exclusively (OR = 14.77, 95%CI = 2.25-99.64 and OR = 3.41, 95%CI = 1.35-8.63 respectively). We conclude that mothers in Jordan have neutral attitude to breastfeeding. Breastfeeding promotion programs and initiatives should target low-income mothers and the general population. Policymakers and health care professionals can use the results of this study to encourage breastfeeding and improve breastfeeding rate in Jordan.