Attitudes to breastfeeding and related factors of motherswith 0-6 months old baby

In this study, it was aimed to evaluate the attitudes of mothers with 0-6 months old babies towards breastfeeding and related factors. The study, which was planned as a descriptive and relational type, was conducted face-to-face with 455 mothers with 0-6 month old babies who applied to the neonatal and pediatric outpatient clinics of two public hospitals between December 2022 and May 2023. Descriptive Information Form and Breastfeeding Attitudes of the Evaluation Scale (Emzirme Tutumunu Değerlendirme Ölçeği, ETDÖ) were used as data collection tools in the study. The data obtained in the research were analyzed with the statistical package program (IMB SPSS 22.0). Descriptive statistics were used in the analysis of the data, independent groups t-test was used to compare independent two-group variables, and one- way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to compare three or more independent groups. The chi-square test was used to compare two-group categorical variables. Pearson Correlation test was used to determine the relationship between the total mean score of ETDÖ and some quantitative variables. In the study, p <0.05 was accepted as the significance limit. The mean age of the women was 28.50±4.20 years, the majority of them were unemployed (70.1%), they were university graduates (72.1%), they were primiparous and had a good obstetric history, half (50.3%) had a cesarean section, 25.6% of them were 0-1 month old. , 34.4% breastfed their baby for 2-3 months, 14.6% for 4-5 months, 25.4% for 6 months, the majority (87%) had knowledge of breastfeeding, had a positive effect on breastfeeding (90.3%), had a positive effect on it was determined that the source of the problem was the midwife and nurse in the first place, and the source that had a negative effect was the mother-mother-in-law in the first place. In terms of breastfeeding, they mostly received environmental support from their spouses (78.9%), midwives-nurses (78.7%) and their own mothers (76%), primiparous people received more support for breastfeeding compared to multiparas, and the most common breast problems were nipple pain (%) respectively. 67.2), nipple crack (62.7%) and breast fullness (60.9%). The mean ETDÖ of women was 110.20±14.20. No significant correlation was found between the age of the mothers, the duration of marriage, the age of the spouse, the age at the first marriage and the first gestational age, and the mean ETDÖ scores (p>0.05). Mothers who were university graduates, had normal vaginal delivery, stated that they were not adversely affected by breastfeeding, and that there was no negative source around them had higher ETDÖ scores. Those who report that their spouses support breastfeeding and participate in baby care have higher ETDÖ scores, but those who state that their spouses are not willing, do not take responsibility for baby care, and do not support breastfeeding have lower breastfeeding attitude scores. Breastfeeding attitude scores of mothers who left the hospital after delivery from breastfeeding and had health problems in newborns were lower. As a result, the majority of mothers have positive breastfeeding attitudes. However, although the majority of mothers have knowledge of breastfeeding and have a positive attitude, breastfeeding rates are low. Breastfeeding attitudes of mothers who report that they are not adversely affected by breastfeeding, that there are no negative sources around them and that they receive spousal support are more positive. Mothers who leave the hospital from breastfeeding and have health problems in the newborn have more negative breastfeeding attitudes. For the healthy development of the newborn and mother-infant interaction, breastfeeding rates should be increased in the first six months of the postpartum period. It is the responsibility of midwives and nurses to ensure and maintain successful breastfeeding from the first hours of birth and to ensure that the puerperal women exhibit a positive breastfeeding attitude.