Breastfeeding attitudes among couples planning exclusive breastfeeding or mixed feeding.
OBJECTIVE
The goals of the study were to describe maternal and paternal attitudes toward breastfeeding among couples planning exclusive breastfeeding and those planning mixed feeding and to compare maternal predictions of paternal attitudes with actual paternal attitudes.


METHODS
Expectant parents with the intention to breastfeed were recruited from outpatient clinics. During the third trimester of pregnancy, mothers and fathers independently completed a demographic questionnaire and a breastfeeding attitude survey. In addition, mothers were asked to predict fathers' attitudes.


RESULTS
Seventy-one subjects completed all study requirements: 56 planned to exclusively breastfeed, and 15 planned to mix feed. The majority of subjects were white, educated beyond high school, and married. Expectant parents planning to exclusively breastfeed were significantly more likely to report higher paternal age (p=0.019), higher maternal age (p=0.006), and higher maternal education (p=0.023) than those planning to mix feed. Among fathers, those planning exclusive breastfeeding expressed more favorable attitudes related to naturalness (p=0.009) and closeness (p=0.036) than their mixed-feeding peers. Compared with mothers planning mixed feeding, those planning exclusive breastfeeding indicated more favorable attitudes related to naturalness (p=0.006) and respect for breastfeeding women (p=0.005). Overall, mothers reported more favorable attitudes toward breastfeeding than fathers in several areas, including disease protection (p=0.004), respect for breastfeeding women (p=0.043), and naturalness (p=0.011). The mother's predictions were less favorable than the father's actual attitudes in the areas of purpose of breasts (p=0.007), respect (p=0.049), and closeness (p=0.024).


CONCLUSIONS
Results suggest expectant parents who plan to mix feed may be fundamentally different from those planning to exclusively breastfeed. There is a continued need to identify factors that influence the prenatal decision to mix feed and to develop strategies that promote exclusive breastfeeding in this population.
Department of Family and Consumer Sciences, Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana. 00jcchezem@bsu.edu
Jo Carol
JC
Chezem
D000328:Adult; D001903:Bottle Feeding / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002755:Choice Behavior; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005220:Fathers / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011247:Pregnancy; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult