tjph

Turkish Journal of Public Health

1304-1088

Halk Sağlığı Uzmanları Derneği

10.20518/tjph.1777886

Preventative Health Care Social Determinants of Health Community Child Health Health Literacy

Koruyucu Sağlık Hizmetleri Sağlığın Sosyal Belirleyicileri Toplum Çocuk Sağlığı Sağlık Okuryazarlığı

Health literacy and breastfeeding self-efficacy: A cross-sectional study among postpartum mothers

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3297-2931

Çifçi

Sema

DİCLE ÜNİVERSİTESİ, SAĞLIK BİLİMLERİ ENSTİTÜSÜ, HALK SAĞLIĞI (DR)

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4071-1950

Yaşar

Beril Nisa

Mardin Artuklu Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Fakültesi Ebelik Bölümü

04 24 2026

1 10 14 2025 03 31 2026

2003

Turkish Journal of Public Health

Objective: Health literacy (HL) encompasses the ability of individuals to access, understand, and use health information. In the postpartum period, mothers’ HL and Breastfeeding self-efficacy (BSE) levels are critical for both maternal and infant health. In this study, it was aimed to evaluate the levels of HL and BSE of mothers with 0-2-week postpartum infants, to analyze differences according to socio-demographic characteristics, and to examine the relationship between HL and BSE.Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted with 202 mothers with 0-2-week infants between March and April 2024. The data were collected by face-to-face interviews using a socio-demographic information form, HL, and BSE scales and analyzed with the SPSS 25 package program.Results: The participants’ HL level (87.02±19.69; 25-125 point range) and BSE level (51.12±12.74; 14-70 point range) were found to be moderate. Demographic factors such as educational level, social security, family type, and number of children had significant effects on both scales. In addition, a positive correlation was found between HL and BSE.Conclusion: The study findings indicate a statistically significant and positive relationship between mothers' health literacy and breastfeeding self-efficacy. In this context, it is thought that interventions aimed at improving mothers’ health literacy may support breastfeeding self-efficacy. It is recommended that midwives and nurses working in primary health care services implement practical breastfeeding counselling programmes, supported by visual materials, for mothers with low health literacy and no social security.

Breastfeeding health literacy infant health self-efficacy scale postpartum

None

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