 | The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
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| The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
Gretchen Simmons, MPH, ORC Macro, 3 Corporate Square NE, Suite 370, Atlanta, GA 30329, 404-321-3211, gretchen.m.simmons@orcmacro.com, Kristen J Wells, MPH, Department of Psychology, University of South Florida, 4202 E. Fowler Avenue, PCD 4118G, Tampa, FL 33613, Nancy J. Thompson, MPH, PhD, Rollins School of Public Health of Emory University, 1518 Clifton Road, NE, Atlanta, GA 30322, and Amy S. Kloeblen-Tarver, MPH, RD, LD, International Nutrition Research Exchange Service, Inc., 1780 Little Willeo Road, Marietta, GA 30068.
This study compared the constructs of four dominant behavioral science theories when predicting the intention to breastfeed in a sample of pregnant women, most of whom were Caucasian, married, and college educated. In order to identify which theoretical construct(s) would best predict intention to breastfeed, a 100-item questionnaire was completed by 213 pregnant women that assessed intrinsic and extrinsic motivation to breastfeed (Cognitive Evaluation Theory), self-efficacy for breastfeeding (Social Cognitive Theory), processes of change related to breastfeeding (Transtheoretical Model), attitudes about breastfeeding (Theory of Reasoned Action), and social norms (Theory of Reasoned Action). Results indicated that when all five theoretical constructs and demographic variables were entered into a standard multiple linear regression model, the attitudes and self-efficacy constructs were the most predictive of intention to breastfeed. This finding supports the utility of the two constructs in predicting breastfeeding intention and adds to the credibility of the Social Cognitive Theory in particular. Implications include: (1) Breastfeeding promotional strategy development should be guided by theory to better assist women in making wholly-informed infant feeding decisions; and (2) Attitudinal factors and self-efficacy issues must be targeted for intervention by health educators in order to improve current breastfeeding rates in this population.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Breast Feeding,
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.