Relationships between Thai fathers’ self-efficacy to support breastfeeding and exclusive breastfeeding duration

• Published in: Midwifery 2022-03, Vol.106, p.103261-103261, Article 103261
• Main Authors: Krikitrat, Preeyakamon, Park, Chang Gi, McCreary, Linda L., Koenig, Mary Dawn, Abboud, Sarah, Sansiriphun, Nantaporn, Patil, Crystal L.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Breast Feeding; Breastfeeding support; Exclusive breastfeeding; Fathers; Fathers’ attitude towards exclusive breastfeeding; Female; Humans; Infant; Male; Mothers; Pregnancy; Self Efficacy; Thailand
• ISSN: 0266-6138; 1532-3099
• DOI: 10.1016/j.midw.2022.103261

To determine associations between Thai fathers’ self-efficacy to support exclusive breastfeeding and exclusive breastfeeding duration. A descriptive quantitative design was used. The study sample consisted of 205 father-mother couples (410 participants) with an infant who was 6 months old. Data were conducted from well-baby clinics of two hospitals in Thailand’s Chiang Mai province from January to March 2020. Each participant completed a sociodemographic questionnaire and Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale (Short-Form). Father participants also completed the Father’s Attitude toward Exclusive Breastfeeding questionnaire. Bivariate correlation analyses of survey data showed that paternal and maternal breastfeeding self-efficacy scores were positively associated with longer duration of exclusive breastfeeding (ρ=0.19 and ρ=0.54, respectively). Paternal self-efficacy scores were also positively correlated with maternal self-efficacy scores (ρ=0.30, p=.01). However, the results of Tobit regression analyses indicated that paternal self-efficacy scores did not moderate the relationship between maternal self-efficacy scores and exclusive breastfeeding duration. Only maternal self-efficacy scores were significantly associated with duration of exclusive breastfeeding (B=.16, p