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Evaluating Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy in Adolescents Attending a Co-Designed Breastfeeding Program: A Prospective Pilot Cohort Study

Author

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  • Christina M. Cantin

    (Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, Ottawa, ON K1H 8L1, Canada
    Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Nursing, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1S 5S9, Canada)

  • Wendy E. Peterson

    (Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Nursing, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1S 5S9, Canada)

  • Amisha Agarwal

    (Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, Ottawa, ON K1H 8L1, Canada
    Employment and Social Development Canada, Ottawa, ON K1A 0J9, Canada)

  • Jemila S. Hamid

    (Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, Ottawa, ON K1H 8L1, Canada
    Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada)

  • Bianca Stortini

    (Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC J1K 2R1, Canada)

  • Nathalie Fleming

    (Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada
    Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology, Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Ottawa, ON K1H 8L1, Canada
    Department of Obstetrics/Gynecology, The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, ON K1H 8L6, Canada)

Abstract

Adolescents have lower rates of breastfeeding (BF) compared to older mothers. BF self-efficacy (SE) has been identified as an important factor influencing BF outcomes. An innovative BF program for young women was co-designed and implemented, which included staff training, a prenatal BF class, and BF peer support. The objective of this prospective pilot cohort study was to evaluate the effectiveness of prenatal education and peer support in improving a young mother’s BF SE. Participants were pregnant adolescents recruited from a large urban non-profit social service outreach centre. The Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale-Short Form (BSES-SF) was administered to participants before and after participating in the BF program. BSES-SF scores were summed to determine a composite score and compared descriptively using median score. Un-aggregated, item-by-item, comparison of pre- versus post-BF program scores were also compared to examine improvements in SE. A total of 20 adolescent mothers (mean age = 16.6) attended the program. An increase in the total BSES-SF score was observed based on descriptively comparing the mean pre- versus post-intervention. Participation in tailored prenatal education classes and a peer-support program was associated with increased BSES-SF. Identifying mothers with low BF SE can enable healthcare professionals to implement targeted interventions in this at-risk population.

Suggested Citation

  • Christina M. Cantin & Wendy E. Peterson & Amisha Agarwal & Jemila S. Hamid & Bianca Stortini & Nathalie Fleming, 2025. "Evaluating Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy in Adolescents Attending a Co-Designed Breastfeeding Program: A Prospective Pilot Cohort Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 22(8), pages 1-13, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:22:y:2025:i:8:p:1271-:d:1724372
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