The effect of spousal support perceived by mothers on breastfeeding in the postpartum period

OBJECTIVE: To examine the effect of mothers’ perceived spousal support on breastfeeding during lactation. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This is a descriptive cross-sectional study. The sample of the study consist of 80 mothers who were registered with a Pediatric Adolescent Women and Reproductive Health Center. The socio-demographic and obstetric descriptive information form and Women’s Perceived Spouse Support Scale in Early Puerperium Process were used for the collection of data. Data were analyzed with number and percentage, t-test, chi-square test, ANOVA, and Tukey test. RESULTS: The mean age of the mothers who participated in the study was 27.05±3.50, while the mean age of the spouses was 30.58±4.12. It was determined that 41.3% of the mothers and 48.8% of the spouses were high school or higher graduates and 68.8% of the mothers didn’t work and all of the spouses worked. Most of the mothers (63.7%) were primiparous and 60% had a cesarean section, 56.3% did not receive lactation education and consultation, and most of the women had exclusive breastfeeding. The mean score of the Women’s Perceived Spousal Support Scale in the Early Puerperium Period of the exclusively breastfeeding mothers was 72.93 while the partial breastfeeding mothers’ was 54.93 (p=0.00). Also, it was found that males with younger age group and high school and lower education level had less support for their spouses (p=0.03, p=0.02), and the rate of exclusive breastfeeding was higher in the spouses of males in higher education level (p=0.01). CONCLUSION: Mothers who received more support from their spouses during the postpartum period had higher breastfeeding rates. It was determined that males with younger age and education level below high school gave less support to mothers in breastfeeding.