title: Do maternal quality of life and breastfeeding difficulties influence the continuation of exclusive breastfeeding?
abstract: Objectives. This study was conducted to determine whether maternal quality of life (QOL) and breastfeeding difficulties influence the continuation of exclusive breastfeeding (EBF). Methods. In a survey, 358 consecutive pregnant women filled out a quality of life questionnaire in the third trimester of pregnancy and the breastfeeding experience scale at 4 weeks postpartum. We assessed breastfeeding practices every month up to 6 months postpartum. Results. Only 11.8% of women continued EBF at six months. Mothers who continued EBF at 2 and 4 months postpartum had better QOL in late pregnancy than mothers who discontinued it (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences between the two groups in QOL scores at 6 months postpartum. Mothers who continued EBF at 2 months postpartum experienced less breastfeeding difficultties during one month postpartum than mothers who discontinued it (P < 0.05). Conclusion. In attempts to promote EBF, mothers with poor QOL or breastfeeding difficulties in early postpartum should be identified and helped.
authors.affiliation: Department of Midwifery, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences, Sabzevar 9613873136, Iran.
authors.forename: Forough
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-8190-0569
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mortazavi
authors.affiliation: Research Center of Psychiatry, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Golestan 49189 36316, Iran.
authors.forename: Seyed Abbas
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Mousavi
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, School of Medicine, Yasuj University of Medical Sciences, Yasuj 7591741417, Iran.
authors.forename: Reza
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chaman
authors.affiliation: Center for Health Related Social and Behavioral Sciences Research, Shahroud University of Medical Sciences, Shahroud 3613773955, Iran.
authors.forename: Ahmad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Khosravi