Parents' health beliefs influence breastfeeding patterns among Iranian women

ABSTRACT

To determine factors related to breastfeeding and its perceived health benefits among Iranian mothers. A cross-sectional study was performed using 240 postpartum women who were selected randomly from eight public health care centers in Hamadan, Iran, in 2012. Mothers who breastfed [BF] and mothers who never breastfed [NBF] were given a structured questionnaire to collect their demographic data and information regarding their health beliefs and attitude towards child-rearing. Descriptive and logistic regression were used for data analysis. The mean length of breastfeeding was 11.6 [standard deviation=12.5] weeks. There was no difference in demographic variables, such as age, type of medical insurance, number of living children, employment, education, and household income [p>0.050], between mothers that breastfed and those that did not. Mothers' perception of the severity of child illness was higher in those who breastfed than those who never breastfed [p=0.050]. In contrast, BF mothers had higher perceived confidence of medical care to prevent diseases [p<0.050] and a higher perception of reverse parent-child roles than NBF mothers [p<0.050]. Mothers' health beliefs and attitude to parenting has a significant role in choosing to breastfeed. Physicians and healthcare providers may provide supportive information that influence a mother's breastfeeding behavior