Abstract
Objective: Breastfeeding promotion is one of the most basic and important health initiatives today. The benefits of breastfeeding to infants, mothers, and society are indisputable. Current breastfeeding rates of 70% initiating breastfeeding, 36% breastfeeding at six months, and 18% breastfeeding at one year of age (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), 2004) are below the goals set in the Healthy People 2010 initiatives to “include 75% of mothers initiating breastfeeding, 50% breastfeeding at 6 months of age, and 25% continuing to breastfeed at 1 year” (HHS, 2004). The purpose of this study was to determine the factors that predict a woman’s intention to breastfeed. Methodology: Two self-administered questionnaires were given to women applying for WIC certification at the Bay County Health Department. The questionnaires collected data about demographics, intention to breastfeed, breastfeeding knowledge, self-efficacy, and barriers to breastfeeding. Results: Women who intended to breastfeed were more often Hispanic or White, had attended college, had fewer children, more breastfeeding knowledge, higher levels of self-efficacy, and perceived fewer barriers to breastfeeding than women who did not intend to breastfeed. Conclusion: Women and groups identified as being at risk for not intending to breastfeed can be targeted for intensive support and education to improve breastfeeding rates in this country.
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