Breastfeeding attitudes, intention, and initiation in low-income women: the effect of the best start program

Abstract

This study compared breastfeeding attitudes, intention, and initiation among low-income women exposed or not exposed to the Best Start program. A between- (experimental vs control group) and within-factor (pretest vs posttest) repeated measures design was employed. A nonprobability sample of 54 subjects was randomly assigned to a control group (n = 28) or an experimental group (n = 26). Using the Breastfeeding Attrition Prediction Tool, statistically significant group by time interaction effects were found for negative breastfeeding sentiment, positive breastfeeding sentiment, and breastfeeding control scales. Compared to the control group, the experimental group had significantly increased positive breastfeeding sentiment (P <.01), decreased negative breastfeeding sentiment (P <.01), and increased breastfeeding control (P <.01) from pretest to posttest. Following exposure to the Best Start program, subjects in the experimental group showed statistically significantly higher breastfeeding intention and initiation than did those in the control group. Practical implications are discussed.