title: Do fathers' attitudes support breastfeeding? A cross-sectional questionnaire-based study in Mumbai, India.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The views of fathers have been shown to be important determinants of infant feeding decisions, but men's attitudes toward breastfeeding and formula feeding have rarely been explored.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To explore the relationship between maternal and paternal infant feeding attitudes and their impact on the duration of exclusive breastfeeding.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective questionnaire-based cross-sectional study conducted in a tertiary care public hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  From May 2009 to September 2010, a convenience sample of 238 parents of infants (>6 months to <1 year of age) were included. Each parent's attitude toward infant feeding was measured by the Iowa Infant Feeding Attitude Scale (IIFAS).
  
  
  METHODS
  Pearson's correlation test, independent samples t-test, and one-way analysis of variance were carried out for statistical significance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Only 83 (34.9%) mothers had exclusively breastfed their babies for 4-6 months. A mother's "total" infant feeding attitude score was significantly correlated with her husband's score (r=0.43, P<0.01). The couples shared similar "individual" infant feeding attitudes to all but four of the 17 items. These 13 "individual" attitudes favorable toward breastfeeding were related to its optimal nutritional value, convenience of administration, ease of digestibility, unique role in mother-infant bonding, acceptability of breastfeeding in public places, and long-term health benefits to babies. Only maternal attitudes played an influential role in achieving an exclusive breastfeeding period of 4-6 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Fathers' attitudes do support breastfeeding, but do not influence the time duration of exclusive breastfeeding.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Lokmanya Tilak Municipal Medical College and General Hospital, Sion, Mumbai, India. karandesunil@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Sunil
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Karande
authors.forename: Sanjay
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Perkar
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005220:Fathers / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult