Maternal anxiety and its interference in breastfeeding self-efficacy

Abuchaim, Erika de Sá Vieira; Marcacine, Karla Oliveira; Coca, Kelly Pereira; Silva, Isilia Aparecida

doi:10.37689/acta-ape/2023AO023011

Abstract

Objective

To analyze the relationship of maternal anxiety symptoms with breastfeeding self-efficacy and duration of exclusive breastfeeding.

Methods

Prospective cohort study developed in a Breastfeeding Center of a university hospital in the city of São Paulo. The sample consisted of 83 postpartum women in follow-up for 210 days after delivery. The Anxiety Subscale of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale and the Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale were used.

Results

The mean total score for anxiety was 3.76 points and for maternal self-efficacy to breastfeed was 128.58. Over the months, anxiety symptoms and breastfeeding self-efficacy showed similar behavior and were not statistically significant. The following risk factors were associated with the increase in anxiety symptoms: abortion, previous history of depression, complaints about oneself, unsatisfactory family and marital relationships, worsening of the relationship with the partner after the baby was born and lower maternal breastfeeding self-efficacy, reflected in the technique domain and intrapersonal thoughts domain. The time between cessation of exclusive breastfeeding and anxiety was not statistically different.

Conclusion

The investigated postpartum women had a high prevalence of anxiety symptoms, with significant interference in the perception and confidence in their ability and maternal capability to successfully breastfeed the baby. There was no association between anxiety symptoms and early breastfeeding cessation.

Anxiety; Mental health; Postpartum period; Breast feeding; Weaning

[1] Corresponding author. Erika de Sá Vieira Abuchaim. E-mail: erika.vieira@unifesp.br

Factor	Correlation	p-value
Age	0.05	0.436
Number of abortions	0.14	0.037
Number of pregnancies	0.13	0.067
Parity	0.06	0.376
Total BSES	-0.23	0.001
BSES technique domain (TD)	-0.2	0.003
BSES intrapersonal thoughts domain (ID)	-0.2	0.005

Factor	Category	Mean	Standard deviation	Standard error	Minimum	Maximum	n	p-value
BSES total	≤4	131.24	20.34	1.75	55	167	135	0.011
BSES total	≥5	123.67	21.89	2.56	64	164	73
BSES technique domain (TD)	≤4	78.13	12.67	1.1	38	100	133	0.024
BSES technique domain (TD)	≥5	73.62	14.22	1.66	35	99	73
BSES adaptation to daily life (TD)	≤4	8.36	1.7	0.15	3	10	135	0.279
BSES adaptation to daily life (TD)	≥5	8	1.98	0.23	2	10	73
BSES baby (TD)	≤4	22.14	4.44	0.38	8	30	135	0.007
BSES baby (TD)	≥5	20.36	4.88	0.57	9	30	73
BSES maternal milk (TD)	≤4	11.59	3.17	0.27	3	15	135	0.217
BSES maternal milk (TD)	≥5	11.07	3.16	0.37	3	15	73
BSES good latch (TD)	≤4	12.69	2.32	0.2	6	15	134	0.223
BSES good latch (TD)	≥5	12.14	2.88	0.34	3	15	73
BSES breastfeeding technique (TD)	≤4	23.34	4.08	0.35	11	30	134	0.077
BSES breastfeeding technique (TD)	≥5	22.05	4.81	0.56	9	30	73
BSES intrapersonal thoughts domain (ID)	≤4	53.36	8.52	0.75	17	65	128	0.09
BSES intrapersonal thoughts domain (ID)	≥5	51.58	8.15	0.98	27	65	69
BSES adaptation to everyday life (ID)	≤4	16.44	2.9	0.25	5	20	135	0.001
BSES adaptation to everyday life (ID)	≥5	15.04	2.96	0.35	8	20	72
BSES motivation (ID)	≤4	17.54	2.75	0.24	6	20	133	0.851
BSES motivation (ID)	≥5	17.58	2.84	0.33	7	20	73
BSES satisfaction (ID)	≤4	7.96	1.9	0.17	2	10	130	0.579
BSES satisfaction (ID)	≥5	7.8	1.98	0.24	2	10	70
BSES breastfeeding technique (ID)	≤4	11.59	2.64	0.23	4	15	135	0.099
BSES breastfeeding technique (ID)	≥5	11.01	2.56	0.3	5	15	73