Breastfeeding Self-efficacy and Postnatal Depressive Symptoms: A Cross-sectional Study among Postnatal Women

Background Breastfeeding self-efficacy predicts breastfeeding success. Studies shows that although mothers recognize its importance, many lack adequate knowledge of proper breastfeeding practices. Objective To assess breastfeeding self-efficacy and postnatal depressive symptoms and compare the breast-feeding efficacy score differences with selected variables and postnatal depressive symptoms among postnatal mothers. Method A cross- sectional study was conducted from 1st-28th August 2022 among 109 postnatal mothers in postnatal ward of Dhulikhel Hospital. The postnatal mothers were selected by convenience sampling method. Data collection was done by using structured questionnaire through interview method. Descriptive statistics (frequency, percentage, median and interquartile range) and inferential statistics (Mann Whitney U test and Kruskal Wallis test) were used. Result There was total 109 postnatal mothers. The median breastfeeding self-efficacy score was 55 with interquartile range 59 and 51. Nearly one fourth (21.1%) of postnatal mothers had presence of depressive symptoms. The mean overall Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale score was 9.37 (SD = 2.89; ranging from 1 to 18). The study showed higher breastfeeding score among age above 30 years, who received prenatal health information about breastfeeding, having previous experience of breastfeeding and who decided to breastfeed before childbirth. Conclusion The study showed that more than half of postnatal mothers had high median score of breastfeeding self-efficacy and nearly one fourth of postnatal mothers had presence of depressive symptoms. There was statistically significant difference between mothers' age, received prenatal health information about breastfeeding, previous experience of breastfeeding and time of decision to breastfeed with breastfeeding self- efficacy score.