The Correlation between Gender Role Attitudes, Maternal Competence and Breastfeeding Performance in Primiparous Women: A Cross-sectional Study
نویسندگان
1 PhD in Reproductive Health, Reproductive Health Research Center and Department of Midwifery, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran
2 Assistant Professor of Biostatistics, Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran
3 MSc of Counseling in Midwifery, Department of Midwifry, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran
doi
10.22038/jmrh.2023.74571.2188چکیده
Background & aim: Breastfeeding is not merely a biological act but it is shaped by social factors, including gender roles and cultural Pressures. This study aimed to investigate the correlation between gender role attitudes, maternal Competence, and breastfeeding performance among primiparous women in Iran.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted, involving 320 primiparous women with 4-6-months-old infants in urban comprehensive health centers, Urmia, Iran, in 2022. Data collection tools included a demographic questionnaire, the Attitude towards Women scale (AWS) for assessing gender role attitudes, the Maternal Competence Questionnaire (MCQ), and a checklist for assessing breastfeeding performance. Random sampling was used, and data were analyzed by SPSS version 21 using the Pearson correlation test, chi-square test, and multivariate linear regression.Results: The average age of women was 27.53 ± 6.05 years. Mean scores (±SD) for gender role attitude, maternal Competence, and breastfeeding performance were 27.75±5.11, 4.21±0.42, and 2.13±1.78, respectively. A significant association was found between gender role attitude and breastfeeding performance (P=0.014). Maternal Competence showed a significant correlation with breastfeeding performance (P<0.01), as did gender role attitude with maternal Competence (P=0.019, r=0.13). Gender role attitude (P=0.000, B=0.49) and maternal Competence (P=0.000, B=1.245) were identified as predictors of breastfeeding performance, explaining 68.4% of the variance.Conclusion: Psychosocial factors such as gender role attitudes and maternal Competence significantly impact breastfeeding initiation and continuation, enhancing its success. The findings suggest that interventions aimed at promoting egalitarian gender role attitudes and enhancing maternal competenc may lead to improved breastfeeding outcomes.
