Abstract

GOMEZ-GARCIA, J. Alberto et al. Intention to breastfeed exclusively: a study based on the Theory of Planned Behavior. Clínica y Salud [online]. 2020, vol.31, n.1, pp.13-20.  Epub Feb 17, 2020. ISSN 2174-0550.  https://dx.doi.org/10.5093/clysa2019a20.

Breastfeeding provides health benefits to children and mothers. WHO recommends it be exclusive until 6 months of age. The Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) focus on the prediction of health-related behaviors, such as breastfeeding. Theobjective of this study was to identify the relationship of attitudes, subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control with the intention of exclusively breastfeeding in a sample of Mexican pregnant women. A cross-sectional study was carried out with 442 pregnant women from Mexico City. Psychosocial variables were measured with a set of scales previously validated. A multiple logistic regression analysis, adjusted for the number of previous children and maternal age, identified significant associations between intention to breastfeed and one dimension of the subjective norm (participants’ mothers opinions), OR = 1.07 (IC 95% [1.01, 1.14]), as well as perceived behavioral control, OR = 1.05 (IC 95% [1.01, 1.11]). In the case of this sample, TCP constructs associated to the intention to exclusively breastfeed.

Keywords : Exclusive breastfeeding; Theory of planned behavior; Breastfeeding intention; Psychosocial variables; Health-related behaviors.

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