Investigating Predictors of Prenatal Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy

Background: While breastfeeding is considered the optimal method of infant feeding, Canadian breastfeeding rates remain below the World Health Organization recommendations. Breastfeeding self-efficacy is known to positively influence breastfeeding outcomes. While previous research has identified predictors of breastfeeding self-efficacy in the immediate postpartum, this study identified predictors of breastfeeding self-efficacy in the prenatal period. Research aim: The aim of this study was to identify predictors of breastfeeding self-efficacy in the prenatal period among both primiparous and multiparous women. Methods: A sample of 401 Canadian pregnant women in their third trimester completed an online survey. Stepwise multiple linear regression identified predictors of breastfeeding self-efficacy. Results: The following variables explained 41.2% of the variance in breastfeeding self-efficacy among the entire sample: feeling prepared for labor and birth, number of children, breastfeeding knowledge, anxiety, length of plan to exclusively breastfeed, income, plan to exclusively breastfeed, and type of health-care provider. Among primiparous women, the following variables explained 31.6% of the variance in breastfeeding self-efficacy: feeling prepared for labor and birth, income, anxiety, length of plan to exclusively breastfeed, education, and marital status. Among the multiparous women, the following variables explained 33.6% of the variance in breastfeeding self-efficacy: anxiety, length of prior exclusive breastfeeding experience, breastfeeding knowledge, and plan to exclusively breastfeed. Conclusion: Through the identification of predictors of breastfeeding self-efficacy in the prenatal period, health-care providers can strategically target women at risk of low breastfeeding self-efficacy and intervene early to promote breastfeeding.