Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2025 May 26;25(1):609.
doi: 10.1186/s12884-025-07738-2.

The effects of pregnant women's breastfeeding myths on their breastfeeding self-efficacy: a cross-sectional study

Aynaz Jeddi Yelsouei  1 , Zehra Demet Üst Taşğın  2
Affiliations

The effects of pregnant women's breastfeeding myths on their breastfeeding self-efficacy: a cross-sectional study

Aynaz Jeddi Yelsouei et al. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. .

Abstract

Background: Myths lead to insufficient milk secretion perception and a sense of failure in mothers and are among the most common reasons for cessation of breastfeeding. Previous studies have revealed that women's beliefs in breastfeeding myths are quite common and that some traditional practices are known by all mothers and applied at low rates. The objective of the present study was to determine the effects of pregnant women's breastfeeding myths on their breastfeeding self-efficacy.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 483 nulliparous pregnant women in the gynecology and obstetrics outpatient clinics of a hospital in the east of Türkiye between March 29, 2024, and September 30, 2024. The research data were collected using the Information Form, Breastfeeding Myths Scale, and Prenatal Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale. The independent samples t-test, variance, Pearson's and Spearman's correlation analysis, and single regression analysis were used to analyze the data.

Results: Pregnant women scored 68.01 ± 17.72 on average on the BMS, and 98.6% had breastfeeding myths at a low level. Pregnant women scored 75.01 ± 14.89 on average on the PBSES. The analysis detected a negative and low-level correlation between the BMS and PBSES scores (p < 0.001).

Conclusion: The study found that pregnant women's breastfeeding self-efficacy decreases with an increase in their breastfeeding myths. Breastfeeding myths explain 23% of the change in breastfeeding self-efficacy.

Keywords: Breastfeeding; Midwife; Myth; Pregnant woman; Self-efficacy.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: Ethical approval for the study was obtained from the Ethics Committee of Atatürk University, Faculty of Medicine (Date: 29.03.2024, Number: B.30.2.ATA.0.01.00/214). Pregnant women who met the research criteria were informed about the study, and then the data were collected after obtaining their consent. The ethical principles and the Declaration of Helsinki were followed during the study. Consent for publication: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests.

Similar articles

See all similar articles

References

    1. Abou-Dakn M. Gesundheitliche auswirkungen des stillens auf die Mutter. Bundesgesundheitsblatt Gesundh. 2018;61:986–9. 10.1007/s00103-018-2776-1. - PubMed
    1. Doğan, E. K., & Yücel, Y. Breast milk and lactation. Health Sciences Research: Nursing & Midwifery-IV, 2023;53. 10.58830/ozgur.pub385.c1625
    1. Dönmez, A., & Yeyğel, Ç. The importance of breast milk and breastfeeding in women's and children's health. Artuklu International Journal of Health Sciences, 2022;2(3)54–58. 10.58252/artukluder.1189798
    1. Erçin, E., & Köseoğlu, S. Z. A. Lactation period and affecting factors with current information. Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University Journal of the Institute of Science and Technology, 2022;4(2)94–99. 10.47769/izufbed.1116606
    1. Kırdar, İ., & Kaya, S. P. The challenges confronted by mothers in breastfeeding: a holistic review with a concept map. East Black Sea Journal of Health Sciences, 2024;3(2)45–58. 10.59312/ebshealth.1468299