Factors of affecting mothers' breastfeeding self-efficacy andbreastfeeding success

Background and Aim: Breastmilk is the most appropriate nutrition method that contains all the nutrients necessary for the growth and development of the baby and its positive effects continue throughout life. Exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months and then maintaining breastfeeding with additional nutrients until the end of the age of two is the basic condition of ideal nutrition. We aimed to determine the factors affecting mothers breastfeeding self efficacy and contribute breastfeeding. Materials and Methods: A total of 188 families with 1-6 months old babies who applied to Dokuz Eylul University Faculty of Medicine between August and November 2019 were included in the study. They were asked to fill in descriptive data form, Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale-Short Form and Postpartum Depression Screening Scale. Dependent variables were breastfeeding self-efficacy level score and Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Screening Scale score. The role of independent variables such as sociodemographic characteristics, fertility characteristics, the way of feeding her baby, previous breastfeeding experience, education status, time to start breastfeeding, how many months she planned to continue breastfeeding, supplementary nutritional status, whether she received social support or not to, were invastigated Findings: A total of 175 children born between 37-42 weeks of gestation without known congenital disease were included in the study. The average age of children was 2.9 months. 46.9% of mothers and 41.1% of fathers had university or higher education level. 38% of mothers were working. The majority of the participants (64.0%) answered the question related to the income level of family as 'expense equal to income'. It was stated that 77.1% of the mothers participating in the study had planned pregnancy and 98.3% was under doctor's control during pregnancy. It was reported that problems were observed in 12.6% of all pregnancies. 76 mothers (43.7%) who received breastfeeding counseling during pregnancy; stated that they mostly (84.7%) received their counseling from medical staff. 46.6% of the mothers' last pregnancies were normal spontaneous vaginal delivery (NSVD) and 53.4% were cesarean section (C / S). 78.3% of the children were breastfed in the first hour after birth. After birth, 18.3% of children were given other nutrients before breastmilk. The percentage of those who started breastfeeding within the first hour in the group with NSVD was 91.0%; In the group with C S, was 66.7%. In the group with NSVD, the frequency of breastfeeding in the first 1 hour was statistically significantly higher in the group with NSVD compared to the group with C/S (p <0.001). The average score of 164 mothers who completed breastfeeding self-efficacy scale is 60.5. Breastfeeding self-efficacy scale score was statistically significantly lower in the first child compared to the other children (p = 0.002). No statistically significant difference was found in terms of breastfeeding self-efficacy score and maternal age, breastfeeding counseling during pregnancy, educational status of the mother, problem in the baby, presence of assistant person, maternal employment status and planned pregnancy. In those with the Edinburgh Depression Scale score '12 and below ', the breastfeeding self-efficacy score scale was higher than those with '13 and above' (p = 0.009). There was no statistically significant difference in comparison of Edinburgh Depression Scale in terms of maternal education, maternal age, father's attitude, problem in the mother, problem in the baby, intensive care hospitalization, problem in pregnancy. Result: The rate of exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months was 64.0%. The delay in starting breastfeeding after C/S was higher than NSVD. Being the first child and high Edinburgh Depression Scale score was effective in low breastfeeding self-efficacy score. Mothers at risk for postpartum depression should be screened; those mothers should be followed closely. Key words: Breast milk, Breastfeeding self-efficacy, Postpartum depression