Amal Abdelaziz Ahmed^1,, Asmaa Kamal Hassan², Safaa H. Mohamed¹, Manal Aboelial Elkiat Hamad³

Maternal breastfeeding self-efficacy (BFSE) is a powerful predictor of a mother’s confidence in breastfeeding and it is a modifiable factor can increase its success and rates. Aim: To examine the breastfeeding self-efficacy and identify factors affecting it during the postpartum period. Method: The descriptive-cross-sectional design was used on 360 postpartum women attended at four maternal and child health centers at Assuit city. A structured interview questionnaire of breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale Short Form (BSES-SF).The level of breastfeeding self-efficacy was a moderate among most of the studied women. The multivariate regression model showed that the variables of occupation of the mother, economic status, having a successful and exclusive breastfeeding experience had statistically significant relationships with breastfeeding self-efficacy. Numerous factors such as parity, previous breastfeeding, Sex of the infants that can affect the breastfeeding self-efficacy. Conclusion & Recommendation: Numerously non-modifiable and modifiable factors that can affect breastfeeding self-efficacy. A woman’s level of breastfeeding self-efficacy should be determined during the postnatal period. The healthcare providers pay attention to BFSES-SF and use it to identify the mothers at the risk of early cessation of breastfeeding. Proper strategies could be designed to increase the breastfeeding self-efficacy among this group of mothers and help them eliminate the barriers to breastfeeding.

breastfeeding, self-efficacy, postpartum period