Paternal breastfeeding self-efficacy and maternal breastfeeding patterns at three months postpartum.

Abstract Introduction: Evidence suggests that breastfeeding has beneficial effects on both mother and baby. Fathers' attitudes and self-efficacy are effective factors in breastfeeding. Paternal breastfeeding self-efficacy means the ability of fathers to help their spouses to breastfeed their infants, which seems to affect breastfeeding. The aim of this study was to evaluate the self-efficacy of fathers and its relationship with infant feeding patterns at three months.Methods: This descriptive correlational study was conducted in 2019 on 206 fathers during the discharge of their wife after childbirth. The inclusion criteria were having a singleton infant, birth weight of 2500-4000 g, Apgar score of 8-10, willingness to participate in the study, the parents living together, and not taking any drugs affecting breastfeeding. A demographic information questionnaire and the paternal breastfeeding self-efficacy scale were completed by the fathers; the maternal breastfeeding pattern questionnaire was also completed three months after delivery. Data were analyzed in SPSS-23 statistical software using the independent t-test, Spearman’s test, Pearson’s coefficient, the ANOVA, and the Chi-square test.Findings: The paternal breastfeeding self-efficacy score was 58.33 in this study. The paternal breastfeeding self-efficacy score of the fathers attending antenatal classes was higher than the others (P-value=0.003). There was a significant relationship between paternal cooperation in prenatal care and paternal breastfeeding self-efficacy score (P-value=0.001). There was no correlation between paternal breastfeeding self-efficacy scores and maternal breastfeeding patterns three months after delivery (P-value=0.99).Conclusion: According to the results, there was no relationship between paternal breastfeeding self-efficacy scores and maternal breastfeeding patterns three months after delivery. However, significant relationships were found between paternal breastfeeding self-efficacy score at discharge and the fathers’ cooperation in prenatal care and attendance of antenatal classes.