The effect of perceived stress in pregnancy on prenatal breastfeeding self-efficacy

This study was conducted to determine the effect of perceived stress during pregnancy on prenatal breastfeeding self-efficacy. In this descriptive study, 347 pregnant women who applied to the pregnant outpatient clinics of a state hospital in the southern part of Turkey for antenatal follow-up were included. The data of the study were collected with Personal Information Form, Pregnancy Stres Rating Scale (PSRS) and Prenatal Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale (PBSES). Descriptive statistics, Mann-Whitney U" test, Kruskal-Wallis H test, Bonferroni and Spearman correlation tests were used in the analysis of the data. P<0.05 was considered statistically significant. The mean GSDS total score of the pregnant women was 19.10±19.12; The mean total score of BPSES was found to be 85.45±11.47. It was determined that there was a statistically significant difference between the education level, employment status, ale type and gestational age of the pregnant women and the mean PSRS total score (p<0.05). There was a statistically significant difference between only the employment status and family type of the pregnant women and the total mean scores of PBSES (p<0.05). A negative statistically significant correlation was found between prenatal breastfeeding self-efficacy scale and total PSRS and total scores of pregnancy, birth and postpartum safe health care, birth and postpartum social support, infant identity and care, socio-economic life in pregnancy. (p<0.05). In the study, it was found that pregnant women had low pregnancy stress, high prenatal breastfeeding self-efficacy and perceived stress in pregnancy affected prenatal breastfeeding self-efficacy.