Relationship of Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy with Self-Esteem and General Health in Breastfeeding Mothers Referred to Health Centers of Falavarjan City-Iran, 2015.

This study aimed to examine the relationship of breastfeeding self-efficacy with self-esteem and general health. This cross-sectional study was conducted on 547 breastfeeding mothers in Falavarjan-Iran. Participants were selected randomly, and questionnaires of socio-demographic characteristics, breastfeeding self-efficacy, self esteem, and the GHQ-28 were completed through interview. The mean score (SD) of breastfeeding self-efficacy was 134.5 (13.3) from the score range of 33-165. The mean score of self-esteem was 5.89 (4.0) from - 10 to + 10 score range, and the mean score of general health was 19.7 (9.13) from the 0-84 score range. Self-esteem, general health and its dimensions showed a significant relationship with breastfeeding self-efficacy. According to the multivariate linear regression, physical symptoms, social dysfunction, age, education, spouse's job, economic status, duration of previous breastfeeding, and receiving breastfeeding education were related to breastfeeding self-efficacy. The results indicated that with an improvement in self-esteem and general health, breastfeeding self-efficacy escalates significantly.