To investigate the breast feeding knowledge and self-efficacy among hospitalized multiparae and to explore the influencing factors of breast feeding self-efficacy.

From January to August 2018, we selected hospitalized multiparae at Yuyao People's Hospital and Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital as subjects by simple random sampling. All of the multiparae were investigated with the general information questionnaire, breast feeding knowledge questionnaire and breastfeeding self-efficacy scale. A total of 400 questionnaire were sent out and 372 valid questionnaire were collected with 93.0% for the valid recovery rate.

Among 372 hospitalized multiparae, the total score of breast feeding knowledge questionnaire was (5.53±1.02) ; the total score of breastfeeding self-efficacy was (80.36±16.72) . Single factor analysis showed that there were statistical differences in the scores of breast feeding self-efficacy among hospitalized multiparae with different ages, education levels, working state, living styles, income levels, delivery modes, number of complications, training for breast feeding, mastery of breast feeding knowledge, breast feeding for the first time (P<0.01) . Correlation analysis showed that breast feeding knowledge had a statistically positive correlation with the self-efficacy among hospitalized multiparae (r=0.117, P=0.026) . Multiple linear regression analysis proved that the main influencing factors of breast feeding self-efficacy among multiparae included working state, number of complications, training for breast feeding and breast feeding knowledge with a statistical difference.

The breast feeding knowledge and self-efficacy of hospitalized multiparae are not good enough. Communities and hospitals need to work hard together to improve styles and strategies of breast feeding education so as to increase the rate of breast feeding.

Breast feeding; Knowledge; Multiparae; Influencing factors; Self-efficacy