Development of a Breast Feeding Adaptation Scale (BFAS)

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to develop a breast feeding adaptation scale (BFAS) to evaluate adaptation to breastfeeding for breastfeeding mothers and their infants and to test the validity and reliability of the instrument. METHODS: The study was conducted as follows application of the conceptual framework, identification of the content domains, items generation, and test of validity and reliability. In order to test validity and reliability, two panels of experts reviewed items and subcategories of the preliminary questionnaire and then data were collected from 329 mothers who were up to 4 weeks postpartum and breastfeeding. Descriptive statistics, t-test, factor analysis, and Cronbach's alpha were used to analyze the data. RESULTS: The conceptual framework was based on the Roy adaptation model. The content domains were developed via literature review, review of instruments, and data acquired from the interviews of breastfeeding mothers and nurses. A total of 69 items belonging to 8 domains were generated. A reduction to 44 preliminary items was accomplished through content validity analysis. Factor analysis extracted 8 factors with a total of 27 items on a 5-point Likert scale. Content validity, construct validity, criterion validity, and reliability of the BFAS were established. CONCLUSION: The newly developed BFAS is a reliable and valid instrument with which the adaptation of breastfeeding mothers and their infants to the breastfeeding behavior can be evaluated.