Differences in Parental Perceptions of Father Support for Breastfeeding and Associated Factors

Background Father support is a crucial factor influencing breastfeeding. Limited evidence suggests that there are differences between maternal and paternal perceptions of father support for breastfeeding. Moreover, the factors contributing to these differences have not yet been fully elucidated. The aim of this study was to compare paternal and maternal perceptions of father support for breastfeeding and to investigate potential factors associated with differences in parental perceptions. Methods This was a cross-sectional study. Between October 2021 and April 2022, 432 couples were recruited from three tertiary hospitals in Shanghai, China. Each couple received two sets of questionnaires, one for the father and one for the mother. The questionnaire included basic sociodemographics, the Partner Breastfeeding Influence Scale, Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale-Short Form, and the Breastfeeding Knowledge Questionnaire. Results In total, 354 matched questionnaires were collected. The scores of the fathers’ perception of their breastfeeding support were significantly higher than those made by mothers ( p  < 0.001). The mean difference score for the overall father support (paternal perception minus maternal perception) was 17.88. In adjusted analysis, the differences in parental perceptions of father support for breastfeeding were larger among fathers who were younger ( β  = 0.155 at age 30–33, 0.247 at age 23–39, vs age ≥ 34), had better breastfeeding knowledge ( β  = 0.140) and higher breastfeeding self-efficacy ( β  = 0.375) and mothers who were un-employed ( β  = 0.117) and had lower breastfeeding self-efficacy ( β = -0.540). Conclusion The fathers perceived higher levels of father support for breastfeeding than the mothers. Maternal and paternal characteristics as well as parental breastfeeding knowledge and self-efficacy were potential predictors for the gap in perception. Further interventions should focus on enhancing fathers’ breastfeeding knowledge and self-efficacy to improve their support for breastfeeding.