Evaluación psicométrica de la autoeficacia en lactancia materna en mujeres atendidas en el Centro de Salud Ludo, Sígsig. 2024

Abstract

Background: Breastfeeding is recognized as the ideal food for infants during their first months. Self-efficacy, consisting of the confidence the mother feels when breastfeeding her child, is crucial in maintaining this type of feeding. Objective: To psychometrically evaluate breastfeeding self-efficacy in women who were attended at the “Ludo” Medical Center during the period of April-May 2024. Methodology: This was an observational, descriptive, and cross-sectional study. The instrument “Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale (BSES-SF)” was administered. Initially, 25 pilot tests were conducted; subsequently, 130 mothers over18 years of age who were attended at the “Ludo” Medical Center were evaluated. Variables such as sociodemographic characteristics, gynecological-obstetric history, and childbirth and breastfeeding characteristics were analyzed. Excel and the IBM Statistical Package for Social Sciences Version 15 (SPSSv15) were used to analyze the data. Results: The results showed 130 mothers who were over 30 years old (39.2%), single (34.6%), with completed secondary education (45.4%), unemployed without actively looking for work (66.2%), multiparous (52.3%), and with a high incidence of early breastfeeding (90.8%). Most practiced exclusive breastfeeding (94.6%) during the first six months. Breastfeeding self-efficacy was high at 93.9%. Conclusions and Relevance: Most mothers studied at the “Ludo” Medical Center in the canton of Sígsig showed high self-efficacy in breastfeeding, reflecting a positive context at the “Ludo” Medical Center regarding mothers' confidence and skills in breastfeeding.