title: Predictors of breast feeding self-efficacy in the immediate postpartum period: A cross-sectional study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  to examine breast feeding self-efficacy and identify its predictors among mainland Chinese mothers in the early postpartum period.
  
  
  METHODS
  a cross-sectional descriptive questionnaire survey was conducted in a regional teaching hospital with childbirth rate over 3000 per year at Guangzhou, China from April 1 to July 14, 2014.
  
  
  METHODS
  a total of 571 Chinese mothers who were within 72-96hours post partum were recruited consecutively to the study.
  
  
  METHODS
  data were collected by the Chinese version of the Breastfeeding Self-efficacy Scale-Short Form (BSES-SF), the Network Support for Breastfeeding Scale (NSBS) and a socio-demographic data sheet.
  
  
  RESULTS
  a total of 640 eligible women was approached and 571 mothers completed the study with the response rate of 89%. Mothers reported moderate level of breast feeding self-efficacy in the immediate postpartum period. The best-fit regression analysis revealed six variables that explained 43.9% of the variance in breast feeding self-efficacy in the immediate postpartum period. They were intention of breast feeding, support from husband, support from nurses/midwives, attending antenatal breast feeding classes, time from childbirth to initiate breast feeding and previous breast feeding experience.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  this study found six predictors of breast feeding self-efficacy in the immediate postpartum period. In order to increase maternal breast feeding self-efficacy level, a more women-centred approach is recommended. Mothers and fathers should be facilitated to attend antenatal classes on breast feeding. New mother' husband could be encouraged in supporting breast feeding. Nurses and midwives could encourage new mothers to initiate breast feeding as soon as possible. Further work to promote early mother-infant contact post birth, such as via skin to skin contact should also be facilitated where possible.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China. Electronic address: yxiao1025@163.com.
authors.forename: Xiao
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China. Electronic address: gaoll@mail.sysu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Ling-Ling
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: Nethersole School of Nursing, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong, China. Electronic address: ip2013@cuhk.edu.hk.
authors.forename: Wan-Yim
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Ip
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing & Midwifery, University of Newcastle, Australia. Electronic address: sally.chan@Newcastle.edu.au.
authors.forename: Wai Chi
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Sally Chan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000523:psychology*; D002681:China; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010290:Parents / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology; D049590:Postpartum Period / Q000523:psychology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000295:instrumentation; D012044:Regression Analysis; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Breast feeding, self-efficacy; Immediate post partum; Predictors; Social support