Fathers' influence on breastfeeding.

Abstract

This study aimed to explore the influence fathers have on their wife/partner's decision to breastfeed their newborn baby. The objectives for this study were to assess the father's knowledge on breastfeeding; to explore the father's influence in the decision of the mother to breastfeed and to explore fathers support for breastfeeding. To fulfill the study's aim, a self-administered structured questionnaire was utilised. The sample included thirty Maltese men recruited by convenience sampling. Participants were identified by the pregnant woman as her husband/partner and they had made the decision to breastfeed their infant. A response rate of 100% was yielded. Data was analysed manually using descriptive statistics and content analysis. Results showed that fathers were very knowledgeable regarding breastfeeding and could state many advantages. They also were able to mention disadvantages of breastfeeding; however, overall fathers seemed to have a much more positive attitude towards breastfeeding as the number of advantages mentioned exceeded the disadvantages. lt was also found that fathers were happy with their wife/partners' decision to breastfeed their infant, the majority of fathers would not have preferred their wife/partner to bottle feed their baby and they all thought that their wife/partner is happy to breastfeed the infant. Concerning their wife/partner breastfeeding in public, just over half of the participants had no objection towards it, however there were fathers who disagreed with breastfeeding in public. According to the fathers, midwives have the greatest influence on breastfeeding and then the father's. When it comes to supporting breastfeeding, the greatest way fathers were going to support their wife/partner was by giving support and by helping with the house work, many mentioned they encourage her not to give up and to help with other baby chores. Results were discussed and compared to other similar studies and recommendations were drawn.