Status and influencing factors of breastfeeding motivation in early postpartum women

Objective To investigate the current status of breastfeeding motivation in early postpartum women and analyze the influencing factors of breastfeeding motivation.

Methods A convenience sampling method was used to select 205 hospitalized women within 48 to 72 hours postpartum as the study subjects. The women were surveyed using a general information questionnaire, a breastfeeding motivation scale, a breastfeeding knowledge questionnaire, and a short-form scale for breastfeeding self-efficacy. Multiple linear regression analysis was conducted to explore the influencing factors of breastfeeding motivation among the women.

Results The average score for autonomous motivation towards breastfeeding among 205 women was (49.94±7.62), and the average score for controlled motivation was (23.76±3.59). The results of multiple linear regression analysis showed that age, participation in breastfeeding-related courses during pregnancy, planned duration of breastfeeding, skill dimension score of the short-form scale for breastfeeding self-efficacy, and total score on the breastfeeding knowledge questionnaire were influencing factors for the autonomous motivation score towards breastfeeding (P < 0.05); participation in breastfeeding-related courses during pregnancy, skill dimension score on the short-form breastfeeding self-efficacy, and total score on the breastfeeding knowledge questionnaire were influencing factors for the controlled motivation score towards breastfeeding (P < 0.05).

Conclusion The level of breastfeeding motivation in early postpartum women needs to be improved. Healthcare providers should focus on maternal age and planned duration of breastfeeding, strengthen breastfeeding knowledge education, and enhance maternal breastfeeding self-efficacy to improve maternal breastfeeding motivation and breastfeeding rates.