Attitudes of Pregnant women's husbands to Breast Feeding

Chung, Hae Kyung; Kim, Kyung Hee

Abstract

By using Q-methodology, this study examines the attitudes of pregnant womens' husbands toward breastfeeding. Also, the research provides basic data necessary to develop a strategy for recommending breastfeeding. A total of 112 items for the Q-population were collected from related literature and interviews with the general public, specialists, pregnant women and the general public, specialists, pregnant women and their husbands. Finally, 38 statements were selected. Twenty one husbands of pregnant women classified these statements on each card on a 1 to 9 point scale(forced normal distribution) and wrote the reasons for both the most supported and the mos resisted statements. The materials collected were analyzed by using pc QUANL program. The analysis drew down following fact that even though the attitudes of the husbands of pregnant were very similar, they could be classified to three types according to the motivation and recognition the degree of choosing breastfeeding. Type 1 is the mother's duty supporter, who insists that breastfeeding is completely natural and the proper duty of the mother. Type 2 is the emotional value supporter, who thinks that breastfeeding emotionally affects both the baby and the mother in a positive way. Type 3 is the conditional choice supporter, who chooses the most proper suckling way of feeding according to given conditions.