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Background: Although much research has focused on identifying factors that influence breastfeeding initiation and duration, many highrisk factors are nonmodifiable demographic variables. Predisposing factors for low breastfeeding duration rates that are amenable to supportive interventions should be identified. The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of maternal confidence (breastfeeding selfefficacy) on breastfeeding duration.

Method: A prospective survey was conducted with 300 women in the last trimester of pregnancy recruited from the antenatal clinic of a large metropolitan hospital in Brisbane, Australia. Telephone interviews were conducted at 1week and 4 months postpartum to assess infant feeding methods and breastfeeding confidence using the Breastfeeding SelfEfficacy Scale.

Results: Although 92 percent of participants initiated breastfeeding, by 4 months postpartum almost 40 percent …