Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Department of Midwifery and Reproductive Health, Nursing and Midwifery Care Research Center, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Breastfeeding is beneficial for the health of infants and mothers. It is a complex
social behavior that may be influenced by social support. The study aimed to determine the relationship
between perceived social support of breastfeeding women and their breastfeeding patterns.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: The research was a cross‑sectional study on 300 mothers with
6‑month infants or younger who were selected randomly. The data collection tool consisted standard
social support and breastfeeding patterns questionnaires. We analyzed data using descriptive and
analytical tests and SPSS 18 at a significance level of < 0.05.
RESULTS: The results indicated that 85%, 82.2%, and 38% of the infants were exclusively
breastfed at 1 week, 4, and 6 months after delivery, respectively. The result of post hoc LSD test
indicated that the mean number of supporters for mothers, who were in the 6th month of delivery,
was significantly lower than other times (P = 0.001). The one‑way analysis of variance indicated
no significant difference between perceived satisfaction of social support at different periods after
delivery (P = 0.92). Despite the present results, which indicated that the number of supporters and
scores of satisfaction with support in exclusive breastfeeding were higher than other groups, the
differences were not statistically significant.
CONCLUSIONS: The mean number of supporters was less in women, who had 6‑month‑old infants,
than mothers who had just given birth. It seems mothers with supplements and formula feeding
patterns, such as breastfeeding mothers, may be supported to use these methods. Therefore, more
studies are suggested on this field.

Keywords

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