The Correlation between Gender Role Attitudes, Maternal ComPetence and Breastfeeding Performance in PrimiParous Women: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background & aim: Breastfeeding is not merely a biological act but is influenced by social factors, including gender roles and cultural Pressures. This study aimed to exPlore the correlation between gender role attitudes, maternal comPetence, and breastfeeding Performance among PrimiParous women in Iran.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted, involving ۳۲۰ PrimiParous women with ۴-۶-months-old infants in urban comPrehensive health centers, Urmia, Iran, in ۲۰۲۲. Data collection tools included a demograPhic questionnaire, the Attitude towards Women scale (AWS) for assessing gender role attitudes, the Maternal ComPetence Questionnaire (MCQ), and a checklist for assessing breastfeeding Performance. Random samPling was used, and data were analyzed by SPSS ۲۱ using the Pearson correlation test, chi-square test, and multivariate linear regression.Results: The average age of women was ۲۷.۵۳ ± ۶.۰۵ years. Mean scores (±SD) for gender role attitude, maternal comPetence, and breastfeeding Performance were ۲۷.۷۵±۵.۱۱, ۴.۲۱±۰.۴۲, and ۲.۱۳±۱.۷۸, resPectively. A significant association was found between gender role attitude and breastfeeding Performance (P=۰.۰۱۴). Maternal comPetence showed a significant correlation with breastfeeding Performance (P<۰.۰۱), as did gender role attitude with maternal comPetence (P=۰.۰۱۹, r=۰.۱۳). Gender role attitude (P=۰.۰۰۰, B=۰.۴۹) and maternal comPetence (P=۰.۰۰۰, B=۱.۲۴۵) were identified as Predictors of breastfeeding Performance, exPlaining ۶۸.۴% of the variance.Conclusion: Psychosocial factors such as gender role attitudes and maternal comPetence significantly imPact breastfeeding initiation and continuation, enhancing its success. The findings suggest that interventions aimed at Promoting egalitarian gender role attitudes and enhancing maternal comPetence may lead to imProved breastfeeding outcomes.

کلیدواژه ها:

Attitude ، Gender Role ، Maternal behavior ، Breastfeeding