A Systematic Review of Instruments Measuring Family and Social Support of Breastfeeding Mothers

Background: Due to the low rate of breastfeeding among working mothers and support of interventions to increase the duration of breastfeeding, this systematic review conducted to evaluate psychometric properties of instruments measured mother’s perception of Breastfeeding Support. Materials and Methods: The search was carried in English language databases including Medline (via PubMed), Scopus, Cochran library and Web of Science since inception to March 2018 regarding published studies evaluating the psychometric properties of the Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy. The COSMIN checklist was used to assess the quality of related studies. Results Authors of Perceived Breastfeeding Support Assessment Tool’ (PBSAT) suggested that instrument seem to should be two factors "workplace environmental support for breast-feeding working mother" and "the available social environmental support for working mothers". Total Cronbach's alpha was 0.85. In exclusive breastfeeding social support (EBFSS) instrument, based on exploratory factor analysis, 16 items grouped into three factors "instrumental", "emotional" and "informational factors" accounted 66% of total variance. EFA were followed by confirmatory factors analysis showed Modified model was partially fitted to the data. In the Workplace Breastfeeding Support Scale (WBSS), EFA identified four dimensions of breastfeeding support at workplace. These four factors labeled "technical support", "breastfeeding-friendly environment", "facility support" and "peer support". Cronbach’s alpha was 0.77 and split-half reliability was r=0.86. In Employee Perceptions of Breastfeeding Support Questionnaire (EPBS-Q), data scaled by the Multidimensional Random Coefficients Multinomial Logit Model. A two-dimensional model (company polices/work culture and manager and her co-workers) were emerged. Cronbach’s alpha was excellent (almost 0.90). Conclusion: Four instruments found to assess breastfeeding was valid and reliable to measure breast feeding in social and workplaces.