The effect of mothers' breastfeeding avoidance behavior on breastfeeding self-efficacy levels in the postpartum period

In this descriptive study, it was aimed to determine the relationship between breastfeeding avoidance behaviors and breastfeeding self-efficacy levels of postpartum mothers. The population of the study consisted of all pregnant women who applied to the obstetrics outpatient clinic of Merzifon State Hospital and the sample consisted of 98 postpartum women who met the inclusion criteria. The data were collected face-to-face between 01.12.2023 and 31.04.2024 with the Personal Information Form, a questionnaire form prepared in line with the literature on breastfeeding avoidance behavior and the Postpartum Breastfeeding Self- Efficacy Scale-Short form. 52% of the mothers participating in the study are university graduates. When income status is examined, 93.9% have an income of 17,000 TL and above and 80.6% of the mothers are unemployed. In our study, 74.5% of the women received breastfeeding counseling during pregnancy and 69.4% during the postpartum period. Nipple pain and not enough milk during breastfeeding were among the most commonly reported problems. The total score of the mothers on the Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale (EBLS) was found to be 60.54±6.16. Only 9.2% of the mothers were found to have breastfeeding avoidance behavior. It was determined that there was a statistically significant relationship between the desire to avoid breastfeeding during breastfeeding and the need for a break during breastfeeding due to breastfeeding avoidance behavior and the mean total score of the ESLS (p<0.05). In conclusion, nurses and midwives should give prenatal and postnatal breastfeeding trainings to pregnant women and encourage mothers to breastfeed by determining the factors that cause breastfeeding avoidance behavior.