Intent to Breast-Feed: The Impact of Attitudes, Norms, Parity, and Experience

Amy S. Kloeblen-Tarver, MPH, RD, LD, CHES; Nancy J. Thompson, PhD, MPH Kathleen R. Miner, PhD, MPH, CHES  

Objective: To examine the influence of breast-feeding attitudes, social norms, and prior experience on predicting breast-feeding intention utilizing the theories of reasoned action and planned behavior. Methods: Low-income pregnant women (n=963) completed a theory-based questionnaire. Results: Attitudes were more predictive of breast-feeding intention than were norms, regardless of parity or prior behavior. Among multiparous women, amount of prior breast-feeding experience contributed independently to predicting breast-feeding intention and rendered norms insignificant. Conclusion: Results support the theories. Breast-feeding promotions targeting low-income women should emphasize enhancing women’s personal breast-feeding attitudes, and, among primiparous women, promoting positive breast-feeding attitudes among their significant others.
Am J Health Behav 2002;26(3):182-187