Social support, breastfeeding self-efficacy, and duration of exclusive breastfeeding in Indonesia: A partial least square analysis

Introduction: Breastfeeding confidence affects how long exclusive breastfeeding lasts. Furthermore, support from close ones is important.
Objectives: To establish a model and explore the relationship among support from husbands, family, healthcare providers, breastfeeding self-efficacy, and the duration of exclusive breastfeeding.
Method: The study employed a cross-sectional design involving 117 mothers with children aged 6-24 months in the Pengasinan Health Centre area, Depok City, Indonesia. Participants were chosen randomly. The endogenous variables of the study were the duration of exclusive breastfeeding and breastfeeding self-efficacy, while the exogenous variables included support from husbands, family, and healthcare providers. Data analysis utilized partial least square-structural equation modeling to establish a suitable model and examine the relationships between the constructs.
Results: The model was found to be a good fit for Indonesian mothers [standardized root mean square residual (SRMR) = 0.072] and demonstrated good predictive relevance (Q square = 0.299). All indicators comprising the constructs were deemed valid and reliable. There was a relationship between husband's support (p=0.004) and healthcare provider (p=0.015) with breastfeeding self-efficacy. Breastfeeding self-efficacy directly correlated with the duration of exclusive breastfeeding (p=0.000). Indirectly, there was a relationship between husband's support (p=0.027) and healthcare provider (p=0.028) with the duration of exclusive breastfeeding through breastfeeding self-efficacy. 
Conclusions: The duration of exclusive breastfeeding was indirectly influenced by husband's support and healthcare provider support through breastfeeding self-efficacy.