title: Maternity hospital practices and breast feeding self-efficacy in Finnish primiparous and multiparous women during the immediate postpartum period.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  to explore the relationship between maternity hospital practices and breast feeding self-efficacy.
  
  
  METHODS
  the data were collected using a cross-sectional survey. The study is a part of a larger longitudinal research and development project called 'Urban parenthood'.
  
  
  METHODS
  three urban maternity hospitals in Southern Finland.
  
  
  METHODS
  altogether 1400 questionnaires were given out and 573 primiparous and multiparous women completed the questionnaire within a week after childbirth. The response rate was 41%.
  
  
  RESULTS
  early and successful initiation of breast feeding, rooming-in and exclusive breast feeding during the hospital stay were associated with higher maternal breast feeding self-efficacy in both primiparous and multiparous women. The reason (medical or non-medical), frequency or method (bottle or cup) for supplementation was not associated with breast feeding self-efficacy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  breast feeding experiences during the immediate postpartum period have an association with breast feeding self-efficacy. Mothers who are not able to initiate breast feeding within an hour after birth or whose infants are supplemented during the hospital stay may benefit from additional support and breast feeding counselling.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynaecology and Pediatrics, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland; National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland. Electronic address: katja.koskinen@thl.fi.
authors.forename: Katja S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Koskinen
authors.affiliation: School of Health Sciences, Nursing Science, University of Tampere, Finland.
authors.forename: Anna L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Aho
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Care and Nursing, Metropolia University of Applied Sciences, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Leena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hannula
authors.affiliation: School of Health Sciences, Nursing Science, University of Tampere, Finland; Pirkanmaa Hospital District, Science Center, Tampere, Finland.
authors.forename: Marja
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kaunonen
mesh_terms: D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009035:Mothers / Q000193:education* / Q000523:psychology; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D010298:Parity; D049590:Postpartum Period / Q000523:psychology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D020377:Self Efficacy
keywords: Breast feeding; Hospital practices; Self-efficacy