The breastfeeding self-efficacy scale-short form: Psychometric characteristics in Portuguese pregnant women

Background: The Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale-Short Form is a reliable instrument to measure mother's confidence in her ability to breastfeed. The Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale-Short Form has traditionally been used postnatally, but evidence suggests that it can be used antenatally to identify mothers at-risk of requiring additional support to improve breastfeeding outcomes. Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the psychometric characteristics of an antenatal version of the Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale-Short Form, among pregnant Portuguese women. Design: Methodological prospective study to examine the psychometric characteristics of the antenatal Portuguese version of the Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale-Short Form. Settings: Two public hospital units in the Northern Portugal. Participants: The sample was comprised of 373 pregnant women recruited at 30-34 gestational weeks. Methods: The original English version of the antenatal Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale-Short Form was translated into Portuguese and the Portuguese antenatal version of the scale was tested in a sample of 373 pregnant women. To examine the psychometric characteristics of the Portuguese antenatal version of the scale, the maternal demographic variables and the depressive and anxiety symptomatology of the participants were examined. The predictive validity of the Portuguese antenatal version of the scale was studied according to infant feeding method at one, three, and six months postpartum. Results: The Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.92. The antenatal version of the Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale-Short Form scores were found to be associated with women's parity, educational level, occupational status, time they intend to breastfeed, and previous breastfeeding experience. Also, the antenatal version of the Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale-Short Form scores significantly predicted exclusive breastfeeding at 1 month postpartum. Conclusions: Results provided evidence that the antenatal Portuguese version of the Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale-Short Form is a valid and reliable measure to assess breastfeeding self-efficacy in pregnant women. The antenatal version of the Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale-Short Form could be a useful tool to assist Portuguese health professionals during routine prenatal care appointments to screen women with lower antenatal breastfeeding self-efficacy and, consequently, those that could be at risk for not initiating or early breastfeeding cessation.