Relationships between Thai fathers’ self-efficacy to support breastfeeding and exclusive breastfeeding duration

Abstract

Objective: To determine associations between Thai fathers’ self-efficacy to support exclusive breastfeeding and exclusive breastfeeding duration. Design: A descriptive quantitative design was used. Participants and Settings: The study sample consisted of 205 father-mother couples (410 participants) with an infant who was 6 months old. Data were conducted from well-baby clinics of two hospitals in Thailand's Chiang Mai province from January to March 2020. Measurement: Each participant completed a sociodemographic questionnaire and Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale (Short-Form). Father participants also completed the Father's Attitude toward Exclusive Breastfeeding questionnaire. Findings: Bivariate correlation analyses of survey data showed that paternal and maternal breastfeeding self-efficacy scores were positively associated with longer duration of exclusive breastfeeding (ρ=0.19 and ρ=0.54, respectively). Paternal self-efficacy scores were also positively correlated with maternal self-efficacy scores (ρ=0.30, p=.01). However, the results of Tobit regression analyses indicated that paternal self-efficacy scores did not moderate the relationship between maternal self-efficacy scores and exclusive breastfeeding duration. Only maternal self-efficacy scores were significantly associated with duration of exclusive breastfeeding (B=.16, p<.01). Key conclusions: This is the first Thai study to assess the relationship between fathers’ breastfeeding support self-efficacy and exclusive breastfeeding duration. The results increase our understanding of paternal factors that impact exclusive breastfeeding duration. Although paternal self-efficacy did not moderate the effects of maternal self-efficacy on exclusive breastfeeding duration in this study, paternal self-efficacy positively related to maternal self-efficacy and breastfeeding duration. Implication for practice: Paternal breastfeeding support self-efficacy should be promoted in co-parenting breastfeeding interventions both antenatal care clinics and postpartum units to promote exclusive breastfeeding and increase Thailand's overall exclusive breastfeeding rate.