Association of Spousal Violence during Pregnancy with Breastfeeding Self-efficacy and Performance in Mothers referring to Tabriz healthcare centers,2023

Abstract

Abstract: Background and Objective: The impact of violence on pregnant women is a serious global health issue. Beyond the physical and psychological consequences for pregnant women, the health of the fetus can also be affected. Pregnancy alone imposes significant physical and mental pressures on individuals, and when combined with other stressors such as violence, it can have adverse effects on both the mother and the unborn child. These complications may contribute to increased maternal and neonatal mortality rates. Given the importance of breastfeeding and its benefits for infants, a study was conducted in 1402 (2023) in Tabriz city health centers. The aim was to determine the association between spousal violence during pregnancy and breastfeeding self-efficacy and performance in mothers seeking healthcare services. Methods: Using a multi-stage random sampling method based on the ten districts of Tabriz municipality, two health centers were randomly selected from each district for this correlational-descriptive study. A total of 355 mothers with 2-month-old breastfeeding infants participated in the study in 1402 (2023). Data were collected using questionnaires on personal and social characteristics, breastfeeding self-efficacy, breastfeeding performance, and domestic violence (CTS2: Revised Conflict Tactics Scales). The data were analyzed using SPSS software version 16 to determine the relationship between the frequency of different types of spousal violence and breastfeeding self-efficacy and performance (Pearson correlation, independent t-test, one-way analysis of variance, and general linear model). Results: The results showed that the prevalence of different dimensions of spousal violence, from highest to lowest, were as follows: negotiationdimension 261 (73.5%), mentaldimension100 (28.2%), sexualdimention 43(12.1%), physicaldimention 31(8.7%), and injurydimention16 (4.5%). Considering the mean and standard deviation, the breastfeeding self-efficacy score was 60.25 ± 9.3 (with the domain range14-70), and the breastfeeding performance score was 4.63 ± 1.1(with the domain range 0-6). There was a significant correlation between breastfeeding self-efficacy and breastfeeding performance (p ≤ 0.001, B = 0.027). Based on the general linear regression model, a significant association was observed between breastfeeding self-efficacy and negotiationdimension of spouse violence (B = -3.220, p = 0.002), as well as between breastfeeding performance and sexualdimension of spouse violence (B = 0.400, p = 0.014). Discussion and Conclusion: Considering the association between breastfeeding self-efficacy and negotiationdimension of spouse violence, as well as the relationship between breastfeeding self-efficacy and sexualdimention of spouse violence , it is essential for nurses and healthcare providers to pay special attention to various dimensions of spousal violence during pregnancy in relation to breastfeeding self-efficacy and performance.