title: Intention or experience? Predictors of continued breastfeeding.
abstract: Despite the known benefits of breastfeeding, many women do not breastfeed their infants or stop breastfeeding early. This study examines the effects of prenatal intention and initial breastfeeding experiences on breast-feeding initiation and duration among 1,665 U.S. women completing questionnaires on infant feeding practices. Outcomes included no initiation of breastfeeding at birth and termination at <10 weeks, 10 to <20 weeks, or 20 to <30 weeks. Predictor variables included intended breast feeding duration and early breast feeding experiences with analyses controlling for demographic characteristics, previous breastfeeding experience, and prenatal intentions to work after delivery. Prenatal intentions to never initiate or to stop breastfeeding early were significant risk factors for all breastfeeding outcomes. Initial breastfeeding experiences were significant risk factors for early termination. This study supports using the intention construct from the theory of reasoned action to predict initiation of behavior but suggests the need to include initial experience when predicting maintenance of behavior.
authors.affiliation: Department of Global Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, USA. adigiro@sph.emory.edu
authors.forename: Ann
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: DiGirolamo
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: Reynaldo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Martorell
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fein
authors.forename: Laurence
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Grummer-Strawn
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000523:psychology*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D033182:Intention; D008128:Logic; D008297:Male; D020380:Needs Assessment; D010298:Parity; D037841:Pregnant People / Q000523:psychology*; D011295:Prenatal Care; D011582:Psychological Theory; D012307:Risk Factors; D020377:Self Efficacy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D014481:United States; D014931:Women, Working / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology