Saudi Mothers’ Expected Intentions and Attitudes Toward Breast-Feeding

Abstract

This article reports the findings of a study that explored pregnant mothers’ attitudes toward infant feeding using an adaptation of the Iowa Infant Feeding Attitude Scale (IIFAS). A longitudinal study was conducted to examine the attitudes of Saudi pregnant women toward breast-feeding, conducted in 2 stages: during pregnancy and after delivery. When asked during pregnancy, 90% (N = 160) of Saudi women said they intended to breast-feed exclusively. In the follow-up phase, the trend was away from exclusive breast-feeding, particularly among educated and working women, regardless of their awareness of the importance of breast-feeding. The practice of combined feeding became the norm (52%). Maternal breast-feeding intention (the type of feeding the mother planned for the new baby during pregnancy) was not a predictor of attitude toward infant feeding before delivery but was a predictor for breast-feeding 4 months postpartum. It is concluded that religious and cultural factors positively influence breast-feeding intention and attitudes (measured using the modified IIFAS), but other factors resulted in relatively low breast-feeding behavior. The IIFAS was useful in predicting breast-feeding behavior only at 4 months of infant age.