Abstract
Objective The study has been conducted to identify the factors
affecting the breastfeeding self-efficacy of pregnant women in the
COVID-19 pandemic.
Design A descriptive and correlational design has been used in
this study.
Setting The population of the study comprised all the pregnant
women applying to the obstetrics polyclinic of a university hospital.
Sample The study sample consisted of 320 pregnant women’s.
Methods The data of the study were collected by using an
Information Form and the Prenatal Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale.
Main Outcome Measures Breastfeeding self-efficacy.
Results The seven variables having a significant effect on the
pregnant women’s Prenatal Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale scores, in
the order of descending importance, have been determined as follows;
being knowledgeable on COVID-19, thinking breastfeeding to be beneficial
for the baby, going to prenatal care checkups on time, pregnancy
duration, educational status , age, and receiving breastfeeding training
in the COVID-19 pandemic.
Conclusion Although the study findings show similarities to
those of the studies conducted before the pandemic analyzing
breastfeeding self-efficacy and the factors affecting it, it is an
important aspect that this study has been carried out during the
COVID-19 pandemic. This study is believed to contribute to the
literature and guide interventional studies to be conducted in the
COVİD-19 pandemic by evaluating the breastfeeding self-efficacy levels
of mothers and the factors affecting them.
Key words: COVID-19 Pandemic, Breastfeeding self-efficacy,
Pregnancy
Tweetable Abstract World Health Organization has deemed
breastfeeding to be safe under all circumstances in the COVID-19
pandemic.
Introduction
Breast milk is the most ideal nutrition for babies under any condition,
be it natural disasters or even pandemics. The fact that breast milk is
especially an important antibody source makes it mandatory for
breastfeeding to be provided and maintained, especially in these days
when we are experiencing the COVID-19 pandemic. Numerous factors
affecting breastfeeding, such as the mother’s age, educational status,
economical status, working status, parity, planned pregnancy,
breastfeeding and inefficient breast milk are mentioned in the
literature.1-6 One of these factors is the mother’s
breastfeeding self-efficacy.4,7 Breastfeeding
self-efficacy affects whether or not the mother will breastfeed, her
thoughts on breastfeeding, and her coping skills with emotional
difficulties she is likely to encounter during this
process.8 Mothers with high breastfeeding
self-efficacy tend to start breastfeeding early and maintain it even if
they encounter difficulties during breastfeeding, while mothers with
relatively lower self-efficacy tend to have low self-confidence and
inefficient coping skills.9 To develop her
breastfeeding self-efficacy, the mother should be encouraged to
breastfeeding from the prenatal period, informed well, willing to
breastfeed her baby, and able to decide on this
matter.10 Therefore, the study has been conducted to
identify the factors affecting the breastfeeding self-efficacy of
pregnant women in the COVID-19 pandemic.
Methods