Breastfeeding success, self-efficacy and fear of breastfeeding in obese and non-obese women

Aim: The aim of this study was to examine breastfeeding success, self-efficacy and fear of breastfeeding in obese and non-obese women. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted with 354 puerperant in a hospital in Izmir. Breastfeeding Assesment Tool (LATCH), Postpartum Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale-Short Form (BSES) and Fear of Childbirth and Postpartum Period Questionnaire (FCPQ) were used. In evaluating the data; Chi Square (x2) test, t-test, Kruskal Wallis, One Way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), Mann Whitney U-test and Pearson Correlation test were used. Results: The average age of the women participating in the survey is 28,0±6,2, 30,5% of the women are overweight and 19,8% are obese. The mean score of questionnaire as fallows: 8,5±1,7 for LATCH, 57,1±8,1 for BSES and 31,4±9,1 for FCPQ. The mean score of total LATCH was found to be significantly lower in women between 18-23 years of age, primiparious women, women who did not have stillbirth, women who did not use any contraceptive method and women who applied to antenatal care 6-10 times during pregnancy. The mean total score of the BSES was higher in women who were 24-29 years of age, women who graduate university degree, women with in nuclear family, women who used withdrawing method, women who applied five or fewer times antenatal control, non-smoking women, women who educated about nutrition during pregnancy and breastfeeding. The mean total score of the FCPQ was found higer in women, who were illiterate and literate, women who had chronic disease, women who lived in large family, women who used condom, women who applied for antenatal care 11 or more times, women who used cigarette during pregnancy period, women who had education about nutrition during pregnancy, and breastfeeding, women who gave birth between 37-39 gestational age, women who gave birth with cesarean section and non-obese women. Conclusion: There was a positive and moderate correlation between breastfeeding success and breastfeeding self-efficacy total scores of women with obesity, and a negative and moderate significant relationship between breastfeeding self-efficacy and fear of breastfeeding total scores. Key Words: Breastfeeding, obesity, LATCH, self-efficacy during pregnancy, fear during pregnancy