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Reliability and validity of the Romanian version of a scale to measure infant feeding attitudes and knowledge
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Reliability and validity of the Romanian version of a scale to measure infant feeding attitudes and knowledge

A Wallis, A Brinzaniuc, R M Chereches, Florin I Oprescu, E O Sirlincan, I David, I A Dirle and C I Dungy
Acta paediatrica, Vol.97(9), pp.1194-1199
2008
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1651-2227.2008.00914.x
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https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1651-2227.2008.00914.xView
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Abstract

attitudes breastfeeding health behaviour infant feeding
Aim: To describe the development and testing of the Romanian version of the Iowa Infant Feeding Attitude Scale (IIFAS-R). The original instrument has well-established psychometrics for use in English-speaking countries. Methods: Questionnaires including demographics and items about prior pregnancy and opinions about breastfeeding in public were administered to women in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, attending antenatal clinic (n = 336) and to a separate cohort of mothers within 24 h of delivery (n = 276). Postpartum follow-up was conducted with a sample of maternity cohort subjects who initiated breastfeeding in the hospital (n = 52). Results: Internal consistency was adequate in both cohorts (antenatal α= 0.50; maternity α= 0.63), with improved reliability for antenatal multigravid (α= 0.60) and university-educated women (α= 0.57). Score distributions were comparable and item means were approximately central across cohorts. Among pregnant women, higher scores (more positive towards breastfeeding) were associated with longer planned maternity leave (χ2= 17.8; p = 0.02). Higher maternity cohort scores were associated with age (r = 0.31, p = 0.003), urban residence (χ2= 10.2, p = 0.04), breastfeeding a prior infant for at least 6 weeks (χ2= 6.4, p = 0.04), and with intending to breastfeed for at least 6 weeks (χ2= 4.7, p = 0.03). Postpartum women still breastfeeding at follow-up also scored higher (χ2= 9.3, p = 0.009). Conclusion: This is the first study to report on use of the IIFAS in Eastern Europe. The IIFAS-R is easy to administer, reliable and valid in Romania. The IIFAS-R can support data collection to promote and assess breastfeeding initiatives consistent with World Health Organization recommendations.

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