Using the social cognitive theory to predict the initiation and duration of breastfeeding among African-American women

Research continues to reveal the disparity in breastfeeding rates among African-American women. Research has also shown this disparity translating into more serious and chronic illnesses during infancy and sometimes continuing into childhood. The specific purpose of this study was to apply Bandura's Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) to predict breastfeeding initiation and duration in African-American women in a community sample drawn from a Midwestern state. A total of 200 African-American women completed a 50 item valid and reliable questionnaire assessing their knowledge, expectations, self-efficacy, self-efficacy in overcoming barriers and self-control in initiation and duration of breastfeeding. Stepwise multiple regression and logistic regression were used to model the SCT predictors of breastfeeding initiation and duration in African-American women. Regression results indicated the overall model does significantly predict initiation, duration, and intention to breastfeed among African-American women. Recommendations have been offered to develop interventions that will increase knowledge, expectations, self-efficacy in overcoming barriers and self-control in breastfeeding among African-American women. Additional recommendations have been offered to further utilize the role of the father and community to increase breastfeeding among African-American women. This investigation provides a critical framework for the development of future research and interventions that promote breastfeeding in the African-American women which is an understudied population.