Title of article :
On the Relationship between Social Support and Early Breastfeeding Termination
Author/Authors :
Faghani Aghoozi, M Department of Midwifery - School of Nursing and Midwifery - Shahroud University of Medical Sciences, Iran , Karimi Khoshal, M Reproductive Health Research Center - Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology - Alzahra Hospital - School of Medicine - Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran , Fayazi, S Department of Midwifery - School of Nursing and Midwifery - Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Iran , Tork Zahrani, SH School of Nursing and Midwifery - Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , Amerian, M Department of Midwifery - School of Nursing and Midwifery - Shahroud University of Medical Sciences, Iran
Abstract :
Background: There is no substitute to mother breastfeeding; on the one hand, mothers need all-out support,
especially in the first days after delivery, which is one of the effective factors for women’s success in
breastfeeding.
Objectives: The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between social support and early
termination of breastfeeding.
Methods: This retrospective study examined the degree of social support for mothers embarking on early
termination of breastfeeding. It covered a group of 235 individuals (150 individuals in the control group and
85 in the experimental group) as its participants. The data were collected through three separate
questionnaires: The Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support Questionnaire, the demographic
questionnaire and the researcher-made questionnaire of evaluation of breastfeeding. The T-test, MannWhitney, chi-square and logistic regression tests were used for analysis by SPSS 16.
Results: The results revealed that compared to mothers in the experimental group, unwanted pregnancies
(p=0.001) and caesarian section deliveries (p=0.007) were significantly more observed in the control group
mothers. Those characterized by termination of breastfeeding received (about 22 times) weaker social
support compared to the breastfeeding mothers (p<0.001, OR~22). Furthermore, the first breastfeeding upon
birth was less (about 0.211 times) observed among the experimental group mothers than the group of
mothers characterized by breastfeeding (p=0.006, OR~0.211).
Conclusion: Husband encouragement and support and high social support are highly effective in successful
breastfeeding and in this line, all-out support for mother, including support by family and society, seem very
necessary.
Keywords :
social support , breastfeeding , termination of breastfeeding
Journal title :
Preventive Care in Nursing and Midwifery Journal