title: Benefits, barriers and enablers of breastfeeding: factor analysis of population perceptions in Western Australia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to investigate knowledge and community perceptions of breastfeeding in Western Australia using a factor analysis approach.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were pooled from five Nutrition Monitoring Survey Series which included information on breastfeeding from 4,802 Western Australian adults aged 18-64 years. Tetrachoric factor analysis was conducted for data reduction and significant associations identified using logistic, ordinal and poisson regression analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Four factors were derived for benefits (it's natural, good nutrition, good for the baby, and convenience), barriers (breastfeeding problems, poor community acceptability, having to go back to work, and inconvenience) and for enablers (breastfeeding education, community support, family support and not having to work). As assessed by standardized odds ratios the most important covariates across benefit factors were: importance of breastfeeding (ORs range from 1.22-1.44), female gender (ORs range from 0.80 to 1.46), being able to give a time for how long a baby should be breastfed (ORs range from 0.96 to 1.27) and education (less than high school to university completion) (ORs range from 0.95 to 1.23); the most important covariate across barrier factors was being able to give a time for how long a baby should be breastfed (ORs range from 0.89 to 1.93); and the most important covariates across all enabling factors were education (ORs range from 1.14 to 1.32) and being able to give a time for how long a baby should be breastfed (ORs range from 1.17 to 1.42).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Being female, rating breastfeeding as important, believing that babies should be breastfed for a period of time and education accounted for most of the statistically significant associations. The differences between male and female perceptions require investigation particularly in relation to returning to work.
authors: School of Public Health, Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
authors: Alison
authors: A
authors: Daly
authors: School of Public Health, Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia ; Department of Health, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
authors: Christina Mary
authors: CM
authors: Pollard
authors: Harry Perkins Institute for Medical Research, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Phillips
authors: School of Public Health, Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
authors: Colin William
authors: CW
authors: Binns
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009035:Mothers; D010465:Perception; D012737:Sex Factors; D014904:Western Australia; D055815:Young Adult