The effects of pattern and intended duration of breastfeeding on the actual duration of breastfeeding in first-time mothers

Includes bibliographical references (pages [52]-54)Breastfeeding mothers are frequently requested to interrupt breastfeeding due to infant jaundice. The purpose of this ex post facto study was to determine if intention and pattern of breastfeeding, interrupted or non-interrupted, have an effect on breastfeeding duration in primiparous mothers of full-term, healthy infants. The attitude-behavior model developed by Liska served as the framework for this study. A breastfeeding survey was sent to all first-time breastfeeding mothers (n = 268) who delivered infants between May 1991 and April 1992 at a community hospital. Descriptive statistics were calculated on the demographic characteristics of the sample (n = 137) who returned the survey. The hypotheses were tested using a two-way ANOVA which was not significant for pattern but was significant for intention and interaction (p = 0.05). Results will aid nurses in implementing interventions that will allow mothers to attain their own breastfeeding goals.M.S. (Master of Science