Association between Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy and Human Milk Feeding in Mothers of Moderate and Late Preterm Infants in a Level II NICU
Date
2019-05-14
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Abstract
Introduction: There is a positive association between breastfeeding self-efficacy (BSE) and breastmilk feeding duration in mothers of healthy, full-term infants. BSE refers to a mother’s perceived ability to successfully breastfeed her infant and is associated with four main factors: (a) performance accomplishments, (b) vicarious experience, (c) verbal persuasion, and (d) physiological and affective states. Limited research explores the relationship between BSE and breastmilk feeding duration for mothers of pre-term infants. Aim: The aim of this research was to explore the association between BSE and human milk feeding at discharge in mothers of moderate and late pre-term infants in a level II NICU. Methods: This study was part of a larger study known as the Family Integrated Care (FICare) study, a cluster randomized controlled trial conducted in 10 level II neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) in Alberta. BSE and breastmilk feeding rates were secondary outcomes. I conducted an observational study that involved secondary data analysis. Participants in this study included 221 maternal-infant dyads from the five control sites. BSE was collected using the modified breastfeeding self-efficacy scale – short form and human milk feeding outcomes were collected using categories recommended by Labbok and Krasovec. I aimed to look at predictors of human milk feeding at discharge and how previous breastfeeding experience may affect feeding outcomes. Results: The primary hypothesis for this study was supported and with all models (multivariable, crude, and stratified by parity analyses), BSE at admission was significantly associated with human milk feeding at discharge (p < 0.05). The secondary hypothesis was not supported since there was no important difference in the association between higher modified BSES-SF scores at admission and providing human milk at discharge when stratified by parity (p > 0.05). Conclusion: using the modified BSES-SF at admission in level II NICUs has potential as a clinical tool to support healthcare providers in identifying mothers of moderate and late pre-term infants at risk of early discontinuation of human milk feeding at discharge. Further research is needed to support the association between higher modified BSES-SF scores at admission and type of feeding at discharge with this maternal-infant dyad.
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Keywords
preterm infant, human milk feeding, breastfeeding self-efficacy, neonatal intensive care unit
Citation
Delhenty, S. E. (2019). Association between Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy and Human Milk Feeding in Mothers of Moderate and Late Preterm Infants in a Level II NICU (Master's thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca.