Journal of Human Lactation - online first articles

Journal of Human Lactation, Ahead of Print.
Background:Iranian researchers have investigated breastfeeding self-efficacy and its related factors. However, there is no valid and reliable tool for assessing the breastfeeding self-efficacy of Iranian Farsi-speaking women.Research aim:To examine the validity and reliability of the Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale—Short Form among Iranian Farsi-speaking mothers.Methods:We conducted this cross-sectional study at Izadi teaching hospital in Qom, Iran. Using convenience sampling, we recruited 174 mothers, who completed the questionnaire on the first postnatal day. A forward–backward translation method was used to translate the scale. Cronbach’s alpha and item-total characteristics were examined to test reliability. Construct validity was evaluated via principal component analysis (PCA), as well as known-groups validity.Results:The mean (standard deviation) of sample age was 28.33 (5.38). The mean (standard deviation) of breastfeeding self-efficacy score was 54.32 (10.50), ranging from 24–70. Cronbach’s alpha (.92), inter-item correlations (.21–.72), and corrected item-total correlations (.44–.75) indicated the adequate reliability of the scale. PCA yielded one component with an eigenvalue of 6.97, explaining 49.8% of the total variance. There was no significant difference in the self-efficacy scores between primiparous and multiparous women. Breastfeeding self-efficacy was not significantly different between the groups in terms of the demographic characteristics.Conclusion:The Farsi version of the Breastfeeding Self-efficacy Scale—Short Form is a valid and reliable instrument for Iranian Farsi-speaking mothers, with sound psychometric properties per the other studies worldwide.

Journal of Human Lactation, Ahead of Print.

Journal of Human Lactation, Ahead of Print.

Journal of Human Lactation, Ahead of Print.

Journal of Human Lactation, Ahead of Print.

Journal of Human Lactation, Ahead of Print.

Journal of Human Lactation, Ahead of Print.

Journal of Human Lactation, Ahead of Print.
Background:Human milk expression, primarily by pump, is practiced by the majority of breastfeeding mothers in affluent countries. Existing literature is focused on determining prevalence and duration rates and the factors behind this trend. There is less research exploring mothers’ perspectives and experiences related to expression.Research aim:To gather the experiential wisdom of mothers with a focus on their information needs and sources related to human milk expression.Methods:Audiotaped interviews were conducted with 35 mothers of infants, aged birth to 24 months, who had expressed milk at least once in western Canada. This study was guided by interpretive description, an applied qualitative research approach.Results:Registered nurses and international board-certified lactation consultants were the most common sources of information, with Internet, friends/family, and other mothers also important. Inconsistent expression advice was confusing for participants, and many reported health care providers did not address all their expression learning needs. Desired topic areas included practical advice on how to express, determining expression frequency/timing/duration, milk storage guidelines, the influence of expression on milk supply, product information, and general support/encouragement.Conclusions:Assessment of expression learning needs should be part of routine lactation support at each encounter. Nonjudgmental, factual guidance will assist mothers in making evidence-informed decisions related to expression practices that are consistent with their unique breastfeeding goals. This should be supplemented by reputable online resources that provide timely and accurate information as well as efforts to connect mothers with peer support groups.

Journal of Human Lactation, Ahead of Print.
Background:Human milk expression, primarily by pump, is practiced by the majority of breastfeeding mothers in affluent countries. Existing literature is focused on determining prevalence and duration rates and the factors behind this trend. There is less research exploring mothers’ perspectives and experiences related to expression.Research aim:To gather the experiential wisdom of mothers with a focus on their information needs and sources related to human milk expression.Methods:Audiotaped interviews were conducted with 35 mothers of infants, aged birth to 24 months, who had expressed milk at least once in western Canada. This study was guided by interpretive description, an applied qualitative research approach.Results:Registered nurses and international board-certified lactation consultants were the most common sources of information, with Internet, friends/family, and other mothers also important. Inconsistent expression advice was confusing for participants, and many reported health care providers did not address all their expression learning needs. Desired topic areas included practical advice on how to express, determining expression frequency/timing/duration, milk storage guidelines, the influence of expression on milk supply, product information, and general support/encouragement.Conclusions:Assessment of expression learning needs should be part of routine lactation support at each encounter. Nonjudgmental, factual guidance will assist mothers in making evidence-informed decisions related to expression practices that are consistent with their unique breastfeeding goals. This should be supplemented by reputable online resources that provide timely and accurate information as well as efforts to connect mothers with peer support groups.

Journal of Human Lactation, Ahead of Print.

Journal of Human Lactation, Ahead of Print.

Journal of Human Lactation, Ahead of Print.

Journal of Human Lactation, Ahead of Print.

Journal of Human Lactation, Ahead of Print.

Journal of Human Lactation, Ahead of Print.

Journal of Human Lactation, Ahead of Print.
Background:Negative attitudes toward breastfeeding in public have consistently been identified as a key barrier to breastfeeding continuation. In order to design effective social marketing campaigns to improve public attitude toward breastfeeding in public, it is critical to identify segments of the population who are less likely to support this activity, their underlying reasons, and the medium through which they can be reached.Research aim:The aims were to (a) identify the underlying dimensions that drive acceptance or opposition to breastfeeding in public, (b) test whether specific population segments were more or less likely to support breastfeeding in public, and (c) identify suitable media outlets to reach them.Methods:A cross-sectional survey testing agreement with 60 statements was administered online between May 2016 and May 2017 and was completed by 7190 respondents. Exploratory factor analysis was used to identify 12 dimensions driving acceptance or opposition to breastfeeding in public. The influence of demographics and media consumption on attitudes toward breastfeeding in public was tested using Welch’s t tests and one-way analyses of variance (ANOVAs).Results:Acceptance of breastfeeding in public was found to differ with gender, age, religion, and parental and breastfeeding status, but not household income. Support for breastfeeding in public also varied with media consumption habits.Conclusions:This work lays the foundation to design effective social marketing campaigns aimed at increasing public support for breastfeeding in public.

Journal of Human Lactation, Ahead of Print.
Background:Negative attitudes toward breastfeeding in public have consistently been identified as a key barrier to breastfeeding continuation. In order to design effective social marketing campaigns to improve public attitude toward breastfeeding in public, it is critical to identify segments of the population who are less likely to support this activity, their underlying reasons, and the medium through which they can be reached.Research aim:The aims were to (a) identify the underlying dimensions that drive acceptance or opposition to breastfeeding in public, (b) test whether specific population segments were more or less likely to support breastfeeding in public, and (c) identify suitable media outlets to reach them.Methods:A cross-sectional survey testing agreement with 60 statements was administered online between May 2016 and May 2017 and was completed by 7190 respondents. Exploratory factor analysis was used to identify 12 dimensions driving acceptance or opposition to breastfeeding in public. The influence of demographics and media consumption on attitudes toward breastfeeding in public was tested using Welch’s t tests and one-way analyses of variance (ANOVAs).Results:Acceptance of breastfeeding in public was found to differ with gender, age, religion, and parental and breastfeeding status, but not household income. Support for breastfeeding in public also varied with media consumption habits.Conclusions:This work lays the foundation to design effective social marketing campaigns aimed at increasing public support for breastfeeding in public.

Journal of Human Lactation, Ahead of Print.

Journal of Human Lactation, Ahead of Print.

Journal of Human Lactation, Ahead of Print.