Breastfeeding attitudes and confidence among mothers in a rural area of Thailand

Abstract: Attitudes and confidence among women can predict the duration of exclusive breastfeeding. The longer duration of breastfeeding, the more advantages there are for both mother and child. Aim: The aim of this study was to explore how the attitudes and the confidence were among Thai mothers and if there was a difference between nuclear families and extended families in these issues. Method: A descriptive comparative cross-sectional study with a quantitative method was performed by using IIFAS (Iowa Infant Feeding Attitude Scale) and BSES (Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale) as measurement tools. Orem´s self-care theory was used as a theoretical framework with 79 voluntary participating women at a well-baby clinic in Bang Pa-In, Ayudhaya, Thailand. Result: The outcome of the study demonstrated that the majority of the women had a neutral attitude towards breastfeeding, 13% had a positive attitude towards formula feeding and 7% had a positive attitude towards breastfeeding. No significance was found between mothers living with nuclear and extended family regarding the attitude. The majority rated high confidence in breastfeeding. Mothers who were living in nuclear families rated lower than mothers living in extended families in “refrain from bottle-feeding for the first 4 weeks” regarding confidence in breastfeeding. Conclusion: The attitude to and the confidence in breastfeeding were relatively good among Thai mothers in Bang Pa-In, Ayudhaya, however improvements are needed. The findings of this study could be useful for Swedish and Thai nurses in their information about breastfeeding to women. Further studies are needed to follow the attitudes and confidence along with the economic development for the improvement of the exclusive breastfeeding rates.