Understanding the development and strength of motivational influences on lactation continuation (MILC)

Background:The current understanding of influences on breastfeeding adherence is limited by a lack of studies that quantify and compare the strength of factors that contribute to developing breastfeeding motivation. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the development and the strength of different types of breastfeeding motivation by assessing the attitudes that influence motivation, classifying motivation as extrinsic, infant-centered intrinsic, and mother-centered intrinsic, and then comparing breastfeeding outcomes (duration and response to barriers) within each motivation type.Methods:A cohort of 128 women were surveyed retrospectively after participating in the Prenatal Autonomic Neurodevelopment Assessment Study (PANDA) study, in which they were followed during pregnancy and the first 12 months postpartum. Survey responses were used to classify mothers with any breastfeeding experience into three motivational types: extrinsic, infant-centered intrinsic, and mother-centered intrinsic. Comparisons were then made to evaluate the impact of motivation type on breastfeeding duration, and response to barriers. Additional correlations analyzed the impact of specific motivational attitudes, previous breastfeeding experience, and demographic variables on breastfeeding duration.Results:The greatest proportion of women (n=104) reported infant-centered intrinsic motivations, which, when compared to duration, demonstrated a significantly stronger impact than extrinsic motivations on breastfeeding continuation (p=0.038, 95% CI=[0.31, 11.09]). When individual attitudes were assessed for their influence on developing breastfeeding motivation, findings demonstrated that women place the most importance on maternal attitudes related to optimizing health (r=0.30, n=115, p=0.001) and nutrition ( r=0.35, n=118, p=<0.001) for their infant, followed by maternal attitudes related to health and disease prevention benefits for themselves (r=0.195, n=103, p=0.048). Confidence in one’s own ability also emerged as having a strong influence on the execution of breastfeeding, which was demonstrated by longer durations in women that had previous breastfeeding experience (F(1,118)=10.72, p=0.001).Conclusion:The variables that demonstrated the greatest strength in developing breastfeeding motivation and therefore, continuation were: 1) Maternal attitudes about the importance of health and nutrition for the infant 2) Maternal attitudes about the importance of health and nutrition for themselves 3) Confidence in the ability to successfully breastfeed. These findings reveal a need for future research to develop breastfeeding education that fosters 1) health and nutrition centered breastfeeding motivations tailored to differing levels of health literacy, and 2) confidence in one’s breastfeeding ability in women with all levels of previous breastfeeding experience.

Grantor dc:publisher

University of Kansas

Year dc:date.issued

2023

Author dc:creator

• Sands, Taylor L

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Christifano, Danielle

• Nutrition

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright held by the author.

Language dc:language.iso

en

Dc Identifier Other

http://dissertations.umi.com/ku:19010

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:kuscholarworks.ku.edu:1808/37160