Objective
Evaluate the clinical use of the Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale as predictive of early weaning and verify if women who had higher self-efficacy scores breastfed for longer periods.
Methods
Cohort study developed with 100 postpartum mothers. Research instrument used: Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale-Short Form. The feeding was monitored on the 7th, 15th, 30th, 45th and 60th day, by phone.
Results
The mean duration of exclusive breastfeeding was 53.2 days (SD 14.2). Most mothers (82.3%) had scores compatible with high self-efficacy for breastfeeding, none had low efficacy. There was no statistically significant difference in the comparison of mean duration of exclusive and non-exclusive breastfeeding, with the scores of medium and high efficacy.
Conclusion
Findings did not enable the confirmation of the use of the scale as a predictor of risk of early weaning. No relation was observed between higher scores of high efficacy and longer periods of exclusive breastfeeding.
Maternal-child nursing; Obstetrical nursing; Breastfeeding; Infant nutrition; Self-efficacy