The impact of digital health literacy among breastfeeding mothers on their infant feeding practices and attitudes

Objective: This study aimed to examine the relationship between digital health literacy and attitudes toward infant feeding among breastfeeding mothers. Material and Methods: This analytical cross-sectional study was conducted between June 1, 2025 and June 1, 2026 at the Obstetrics and Gynecology Outpatient Clinic of Aydın Adnan Menderes University Hospital. The sample consisted of 182 breastfeeding mothers with infants aged 0–6 months who were selected using the convenience sampling method and agreed to participate in the study. Data were collected using the Personal Information Form, the Digital Health Literacy Scale, and the Iowa Infant Feeding Attitude Scale. Descriptive statistics, chi-square test, Fisher's Exact Test, and Pearson correlation analysis were used to analyze the data. Results: The mean age of the mothers was 31.35±6.02 years, and the mean age of their infants was 105.65±62.27 days. Of the mothers, 46.7% had a university degree or higher level of education. The most commonly used device for accessing digital resources was the smartphone (91.85%), the most frequently used source for seeking health information was Google (76.19%), and the most trusted source regarding infant feeding was healthcare professionals (77.5%). The mean total scores of the Digital Health Literacy Scale and the Iowa Infant Feeding Attitude Scale were 2.84±0.50 and 64.97±6.25, respectively. A positive, weak, and statistically significant relationship was found between the total scores of the Digital Health Literacy Scale and the Iowa Infant Feeding Attitude Scale (r=0.214; p=0.004). No statistically significant difference was found in infant feeding attitude categories according to digital health literacy levels (p=0.862). Conclusion: This study found a limited but significant relationship between digital health literacy and attitudes toward infant feeding among breastfeeding mothers. In midwifery practice, mothers should be supported in critically evaluating the information they encounter in digital environments, and breastfeeding counseling should be strengthened by integrating digital health literacy.