Breastfeeding competency and its influencing factors among pregnant women in third trimester pregnancy: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Competency is closely related to the occurrence of the behavior. Breastfeeding competence is the mastery of different breastfeeding factors which intervene in breastfeeding behavior. Breastfeeding competence could improve the breastfeeding behavior. However, few studies have paid attention to the status and the influencing factors of breastfeeding competency. The breastfeeding competency of pregnant women in third trimester pregnancy has the greatest impact on breastfeeding behavior after childbirth. Therefore, the objective of this study were to investigate the breastfeeding competency level and independent risk factors for breastfeeding competency among pregnant women in third trimester pregnancy. A cross-sectional survey method and convenience sampling method was used in the study. The general information questionnaire including age, gestational week, educational background, and so on were used to investigate the general information of pregnant women and their husbands. A breastfeeding competency scale (BCS) was used to investigate the breastfeeding competency of pregnant women. The total score of the BCS ranges from 38 to 190, with higher scores indicating greater breastfeeding competency. Lower level, medium level and higher level are 38–89, 90–140 and 141–190 respectively. Type-D Scale-14 (DS14) was used to investigate the type D personality of pregnant women. A multivariable linear regression was used to examine the independent predictors of breastfeeding competency. A total of 550 questionnaires were collected and finally 525 effective questionnaires were collected. The age of 525 pregnant women is (30.24 ± 3.954) years old. The breastfeeding competency score of pregnant women was (134 ± 19.741). Multivariable linear regression analysis showed that higher breastfeeding competency in pregnant women were reported among pregnant women who gestational age ≥ 256 days (37 weeks) (B = 8.494, p < 0.001), the previous breastfeeding experience were exclusive breastfeeding (B = 17.384, p < 0.001) and partial breastfeeding (B = 16.878, p < 0.001), participating in pregnant women school 2–3 times (B = 10.968, p = 0.013) and ≥ 5 times (B = 13.731, p = 0.034). Pregnant women with lower breastfeeding competency were found in women who were judged to have type D personality (B = − 6.358, p < 0.001). The result can explain 25.8% of the variation in the total breastfeeding competency score. This should be considered an important issue by maternal and child health care in the medical system that the moderate level of breastfeeding capacity among pregnant women. Differentiated and targeted breastfeeding support and services for pregnant women should be carried out based on influencing factors of breastfeeding competency.

Investigation of maternal breastfeeding guarantee policy needs and influencing factors: a cross-sectional study in China

“…In May 2021, after China's "Three-child Policy" was proposed, the "Decision of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council on Optimizing the Birth Policy to Promote Long-term Balanced Population Development" (hereafter referred to as the "Decision") clearly mentioned the promotion of prenatal and postnatal care and the implementation of breastfeeding promotion (28). Maternal mothers have certain needs for breastfeeding knowledge, skills, duration of breastfeeding, and breastfeeding support at the social level (29,30) similar to the results of this study. Breastfeeding policy could improve maternal women breastfeeding competency, which directly or indirectly affects breastfeeding behaviors.…”

Conhecimento de gestantes sobre os benefícios da amamentação

“…Although no association was found between the trimester progression of pregnancy and knowledge, there are reports that from the 37 th week onwards, pregnant women acquire more knowledge about the benefits of breastfeeding for infant health 19 . It is theorized that before the 37 th week, prenatal care focuses on actions and attitudes that are necessary during pregnancy, and therefore, postpartum topics are not extensively addressed.…”

Association of duration of skin-to-skin contact after cesarean delivery in China: a superiority, multicentric randomized controlled trial

“…Second, we did not examine other factors that may have affected maternal willingness, breastfeeding competency, family and medical support, and capacity to breastfeed, including decreased mobility, wound pain, and positioning difficulties that are unique to cesarean deliveries. 14 , 29 Finally, the RCT was not blinded. Although these are important limitations, we do not see them as being able to substantially impact the interpretation of the major findings.…”