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Development and psychometric testing of the prenatal breast-feeding self-efficacy scale.

Wells KJ, Thompson NJ, Kloeblen-Tarver AS

Department of Psychology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA. kwells@cas.usf.edu

OBJECTIVE: To develop and evaluate the psychometric properties of a scale measuring prenatal breast-feeding self-efficacy. METHODS: A 20-item scale was administered to a sample of 279 low-income pregnant women. RESULTS: Results from this study provide evidence for internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = .89) and validity of this measure of prenatal breast-feeding self-efficacy in this population. A factor analysis of the scale indicated 4 themes. The instrument distinguished between women who intended to breast-feed and those who intended to formula feed. CONCLUSION: A valid and reliable scale measuring self-efficacy for breast-feeding during pregnancy may help health care providers design interventions to increase breast-feeding rates.

Published 14 March 2006 in Am J Health Behav, 30(2): 177-87.
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