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A theory‐based qualitative study to elicit beliefs underlying the behavior of breastfeeding exclusively for six months
Author(s) -
Bai Yeon,
Middlestadt Susan E,
Peng C.Y. Joanne,
Fly Alyce D
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.21.5.a686-c
Subject(s) - breastfeeding , theory of planned behavior , psychological intervention , normative , population , psychology , medicine , promotion (chess) , breastfeeding promotion , developmental psychology , pediatrics , nursing , environmental health , philosophy , control (management) , management , epistemology , politics , political science , law , economics
Though 46% of mothers initiate exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) at birth, only 17% continue for 6 months postpartum. Many interventions based on theory fail because formative research is not conducted with the specific behavior and the specific population. The aim of this study was to identify salient consequences, social referents, and circumstances for the behavior of EBF for 6 months with women who had initiated EBF. A sample of 25 women who were up to 18 months postpartum and had EBF for some duration was recruited from Central Indiana during spring of 2006. Six open‐ended questions were asked about EBF for 6 months: two each to elicit behavioral, normative, and control beliefs. Demographics of mothers were: 80% White, 84% married, 44% WIC‐eligible, 56% working, and 31.8±5.5 years of age. Content analysis was performed with texts provided by respondents. The most frequently mentioned consequence of EBF for 6 months was “bonding with the baby”. “Baby's father” and “friends” were the most frequently mentioned referents who would approve, “people in society” were the referents who would disapprove. “Returning to work” was the most frequently mentioned barrier. “Family and friend supports” was the circumstance that made EBF for 6 months easier. These modal beliefs can be incorporated in the design of a quantitative instrument to measure constructs of behavior theory or addressed in health promotion programs to increase EBF.