Breastfeeding self-efficiency among young mothers at Ambulatório Sofia Feldman public service and Ambulatório Ciências Médicas public service in Belo Horizonte

Abstract

Introduction: Breastfeeding holds crucial importance for both the child and the nursing mother. Factors such as self-efficacy and safety can exert influence on early weaning, with these factors being either external (extrinsic) or internal (intrinsic) to the mother. Objective: To analyze factors associated with breastfeeding self-efficacy among young mothers. Method: Cross-sectional study carried out with a sample of 65 users of two outpatient services in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais. Participants were women who had a pregnancy up to 20 years of age. Data collection was performed between September 2021 and February 2022, through face-to-face interviews, using a sociodemographic questionnaire developed by the authors. Categorical variables were presented as absolute and relative frequencies and numerical variables as mean and standard deviation (SD). Results: A correlation was identified between Exclusive Breastfeeding (EBF) and the use of dairy supplements with low/medical self-efficacy, associated with the reports: “I did not produce so much milk (N57, 15 years old)”, “My milk did not sustain (N36, 16 years)”. On average, women became pregnant at the age of 17.3 years. Most of them self-declared as non-white, had only completed elementary school, and did not work while breastfeed-ing. Conclusion: Further studies should be conducted to explore additional factors related to self-efficacy that can enhance adherence to evidence-based practices. There is a need for public policies that specifically target young mothers, with the aim of promoting education, ensuring employability, and ultimately improving their socio-economic conditions.