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. 2023 Jun;27(6):1060-1069.
doi: 10.1007/s10995-023-03638-z. Epub 2023 Apr 8.

A Survey of Breastfeeding Attitudes and Health Locus of Control in the Nigerian Population

Adenike Adegbayi  1 , Andrew Scally  2 , Valerie Lesk  1 , Barbara J Stewart-Knox  3
Affiliations

A Survey of Breastfeeding Attitudes and Health Locus of Control in the Nigerian Population

Adenike Adegbayi et al. Matern Child Health J. 2023 Jun.

Abstract
in English, French

Objectives: Breastfeeding is important to infant health and survival in sub-Saharan Africa. To promote breastfeeding effectively, understanding of psychological factors associated with infant feeding choices is required. This study investigated breastfeeding attitudes and health locus of control (HLoC) in a Nigerian community sample.

Methods: Men and women (N = 400) (71% female; mean age 34.2 years/ range 18-86 years) were recruited through community groups in Nigeria. Self-report survey by questionnaire measured breastfeeding attitudes using the Iowa Infant Feeding Attitude Scale (IIFAS) and health locus of control using the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control Scale (MHLoCs).

Results mean: IIFAS scores (mean = 57.7; sd = 7.8) became less favourable with increasing age (p = 0.02). Men had higher IIFAS scores (mean = 58.6; sd = 7.6) than women (mean = 56.6; sd = 8.0) indicating more favourable attitudes toward breastfeeding (p = 0.02). Women scored higher than men on external chance HLoC (ECHLoC) (p = 0.003) and external powerful others HLoC (EPHLoC) (p = 0.02). Increasing age was associated with higher scores on ECHLoC (p < 0.01) and EPHLoC (p < 0.01). Multiple linear regression analysis was significant (p < 0.001) and explained 7.8% of variance in breastfeeding attitude. Lower IIFAS scores, reflecting more negative attitudes to breastfeeding, were associated with higher ECHLoC (p < 0.01) and EPOHLoC (p < 0.05). Higher IIFAS scores, reflecting more positive attitudes to breastfeeding, were associated with greater IHLoC (p < 0.01). Neither age nor gender were associated with IIFAS scores in the final model.

Conclusions: This implies a need to explore health locus of control when promoting positive attitudes to breastfeeding and supporting families in breastfeeding advocacy.

What is already known? Infant feeding decisions are made in a social context and influenced by significant others. Yet, most studies of breastfeeding attitudes have exclusively considered women of childbearing age and mostly in Western cultures. What this study adds? This study meets a need to understand societal attitudes to breastfeeding in diverse cultures. The research also tests the theory that health-related locus of control (H-RLoC) will be related to breastfeeding attitudes. Knowledge of societal attitudes toward breastfeeding and of HRLoC will help to inform effective breastfeeding promotions that are tailored to the specific needs of Nigerian people.

Keywords: Attitudes; Breastfeeding; Health locus of control; Iowa Infant Feeding Attitude Scale; Nigeria; Survey.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors know of no conflict of interest that could affect the publication of this research.

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