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

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.