INVESTIGATING BREASTFEEDING SELF-EFFICACY AND HEALTH LITERACY IN BREASTFEEDING MOTHERS IN SIRJAN

Effective breastfeeding is influenced by breastfeeding self-efficacy and maternal health literacy. This research evaluated breastfeeding self-efficacy and health literacy in breastfeeding mothers in Sirjan in 2020.

This study was a cross-sectional study with a descriptive-analytical approach. Three hundred and eighty-four breastfeeding mothers were recruited using stratified random sampling. Data were gathered through the breastfeeding self-efficacy scale-short form (BSES-SF) and health literacy for adults (HELIA) questionnaire and were analyzed using SPSS version 24 and by descriptive and analytical (Mann-Whitney U, Kruskal Wallis, and Spearman correlation) tests.

Data analysis showed that the breastfeeding self-efficacy status of mothers was good, with a mean and standard deviation of 53.25±8.35. There was also a significant relationship between breastfeeding self-efficacy and occupation, income, and source of receiving health education (p<0.05). In addition, the level of health literacy of mothers, with a mean and standard deviation of 23.65 ± 18.35, was insufficient and had a significant relationship with the mother's job, income, source of receiving health education, fertility method, whether or not to have children and the consumption of nutrients during breastfeeding (p<0.05).

Breastfeeding self-efficacy and mothers' health literacy of breastfeeding mothers in Sirjan need to be improved, so interventions are necessary to improve the current situation. In addition, demographic characteristics should be considered.