title: The effects of a breastfeeding self-efficacy intervention on short-term breastfeeding outcomes among primiparous mothers in Wuhan, China.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effects of a breastfeeding intervention on primiparous mothers' breastfeeding self-efficacy, breastfeeding duration and exclusivity at 4 and 8 weeks postpartum.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Few studies have examined the effects of breastfeeding self-efficacy on improved breastfeeding outcomes among primiparous mothers in China.
  
  
  METHODS
  An experimental pre-test and posttest, two-group design was used in the study.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 74 participants were recruited to the study from a tertiary hospital in central China, from June-October 2012. An individualized, standardized nursing intervention based on the Self-Efficacy Theory was delivered to enhance mothers' breastfeeding self-efficacy, breastfeeding duration and exclusivity at 4 and 8 weeks postpartum. Participants were randomly assigned to an intervention or referent group. Participants in the intervention group received three individualized, self-efficacy-enhancing sessions. Participants in the referent group received standard care.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participants in the intervention group showed significantly greater increases in breastfeeding self-efficacy, exclusivity and duration than participants in the control group at 4 and 8 weeks postpartum (except for duration at 4 weeks). High baseline breastfeeding self-efficacy predicted higher breastfeeding self-efficacy later and more exclusive breast-feeding.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings in this study suggest that intervention aimed at increasing self-efficacy has a significant impact on maternal breastfeeding self-efficacy and short-term breastfeeding outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Wuhan University, HOPE School of Nursing & Infection Control Nurse, Fujian Provincial Hospital, China.
authors.forename: Di Shi
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Thomas P
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: McCoy
authors.forename: Jimmy T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Efird
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001942:Breast Feeding; D002681:China; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011247:Pregnancy; D020377:Self Efficacy
keywords: China; breastfeeding duration; breastfeeding exclusivity; breastfeeding self-efficacy; primiparous mothers; self-efficacy; self-efficacy intervention; self-efficacy theory; short-term breastfeeding outcomes