Maternal breastfeeding self-efficacy during the first week and sixth week postpartum

The ideal nourishment for first 12 months of a child's life is breastfeeding and maternal selfefficacy is one factor that affects breastfeeding duration. Therefore, the present study aimed to compare the maternal breastfeeding and selfefficacy during the first week and six-week postpartum. This descriptive, analytical study was conducted on 767 women referring to the Family Health Research Center of Rashtin 2014. Mothers were selected through continuous sampling. For data collection, demographic questionnaires, and Dennis breastfeeding self-efficacy scale was used. For data analysis, Chi-square, Mann-Whitney U, Pearson's correlation coefficient and multiple regression were performed, using SPSS version 19. In this study, most mothers had scores compatible with moderate self-efficacy in the first week and in the six week had high self-efficacy for breastfeeding. Results of the study indicate that breastfeeding durat ion increases the breastfeeding and self-efficacy levels. So, developing and implementing appropriate approaches needed to improve breastfeeding duration in mothers.