EFFECTS OF SPOUSAL SUPPORT IN THE EARLY POSTPARTUM PERIOD ON BREASTFEEDING MOTIVATION IN PATRIARCHAL SOCIETIES

Abstract

Purpose: Breastfeeding is important with regard to public health. Our aim was to examine effects of spousal support in the early postpartum period on breastfeeding motivation in patriarchal societies.Material and Methods: Study was descriptive, cross-sectional, correlational design. Study was conducted in a pediatrics outpatient clinic of University Hospital in Inland Anatolia Region in Turkey. It included primiparous (n=145) and multiparous (n=152) women. Data were collected by using Demographic Data Collection Form, The Scale of Perceived Spousal Support among Women in the Early Postpartum Period and The Breastfeeding Motivation Scale. Descriptive and Simple linear regression analyses were conducted in this study.Results: Analysis showed a significant positive, moderate relation between spousal support and breastfeeding motivation in the primiparous women; spousal support accounted for 23.8% of breastfeeding motivation of the women. There was a significant, positive weak relation between spousal support and breastfeeding motivation in the multiparous women; spousal support explained 8.2% of breastfeeding motivation in these women.Conclusion: Spousal support in the early postpartum period was found to have a positive influence on improvement of breastfeeding motivation. However, it could explain a small percentage of breastfeeding motivation. New strategies should be created to encourage spouses to get involved in breastfeeding.