Translation and Validation of the Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale Into Spanish: Data From a Puerto Rican Population

Abstract

Many new mothers discontinue breastfeeding prematurely due to difficulties encountered rather than maternal choice. Research has shown that a significant predictor of breastfeeding duration is maternal confidence. Using self-efficacy theory as a conceptual framework to measure breastfeeding confidence, the Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale (BSES) was developed and psychometrically tested among English-speaking mothers. The purpose of this methodological study was to translate the BSES into Spanish and determine the psychometric characteristics of the BSES in a sample of 100 Puerto Rican women. The psychometric assessment of the original study was replicated including internal consistency, principal components factor analysis, and comparison between contrasted groups. This study is the first to examine the psychometric characteristics of the Spanish-version BSES administered in-hospital and provide further evidence of the reliability and validity of the instrument. J Hum Lact. 19(1):35-42.

Traducción y validación de la escala de auto-eficacia de la lactancia materna a Español: datos de una población puertorriqueña Muchas madres interrumpen la lactancia prematuramente mayormente debido a dificultades que a preferencia materna. Las investigaciones han mostrado que un factor pronóstico significante en la duración de la lactancia es la confianza materna. La Escala de Autoedicacia de la Lactancia (BSES), se desarrolló y se probó sicométricamente en madres de habla inglesa utilizando la teoría de auto-eficacia como el concepto básico para medir la confianza en la lactancia materna,. El propósito de este estudio metodológico fue de traducir el BSES a Español y determinar las características sicométricas del BSES en un grupo de 100 mujeres puertorriqueñas. La evaluación sicométrica del estudio original se replicó incluyendo consistencia, componentes principales del factor de análisis, y comparando entre los grupos de contraste. Este estudio es el primero en examinar las características sicométricas de la versión en Español del instrumento BSES utilizado en el hospital y muestra evidencia de su confianza y validez.

Keywords

breastfeeding breastfeeding self-efficacy instrument development psychometric testing translation maternal confidence

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