effective factors of breast feeding behavior based on health belief model constructs among women in third trimester of pregnancy

background: according to who and unicef emphasison breastfeeding as an essential strategy in child growth and survival,nevertheless, there is a significant space in breastfeeding and whorecommendation in iran yet. this study aimed to assessing the effective factorsof breast feeding behavior based on health belief model constructs among womenin third trimester of pregnancy referee to health care networks of tums in2012. methods:this study was across sectional on which 266 women in third trimester of pregnancy referee tohealth care networks in 2012 were selected randomly. instrument of datagathering was a two part one included demographic variables (8 items) andself-administered breast feeding assessment based on hbm (55 items). data wasanalyzed with spss software version 18 using independent t-test, anova andperson correlation coefficient. significant level was set at 0.05.findings:mean and sd ofparticipant age was 28.85± 4.09 years. mean and sd of perceived benefits andself-efficacy were the most and the least on (81.55± 11.93) and (33.41± 5.19)respectively. perceived susceptibility had significant relation with age (p=0.05),perceived barriers had significant linked with occupation (p=0.02) and age (p=0.01)and cues to action had significant relation with women educational level (p=0.007),bmi (p=0.01) and age (p=0.001). furthermore,perceived benefits had significant relation with husband educational level only(p=0.024).conclusion:study findingsrevealed that self-efficacy in pregnant women regarding breast feeding behaviorwas poor. thus, it seems that using health education and promotion interventionprograms based on self-efficacy resources such as encouragement, social supportand verbal persuasion can be efficient on promoting breast feeding behavior.