The status quo and influencing factors of breastfeeding social support in China based on LASSO regression model

Background: In China, the rate of exclusive breastfeeding at 6 months is only 29.2%, well below the global breastfeeding collective target of at least 50% by 2025. This study explores the status quo of breastfeeding social support among puerpera and analyses its influencing factors, in order to provide a basis for improving breastfeeding rate in China.

Methods: A total of 251 puerpera were selected to fill in the general information questionnaire and the Breastfeeding Social Support Scale from three community health service centers in the city of Chengde, Hebei province, China, from September to November 2023 by completed random cluster sampling method. And the LASSO regression was used to screen and order the influencing factors of breastfeeding social support.

Results: The total score of the Breastfeeding Social Support Scale was (48.95 ± 7.93). The results of LASSO regression showed that when the lambda (λ) value was 0.7428, the error was the smallest, and the corresponding number of influencing factors was four, and the top four independent variables in importance ranking were whether or not breastfeeding at night, employment status, the feeding mode of the youngest baby, partner attended school/lecture for pregnant women.

Conclusion: The level of breastfeeding social support remains to be improved; health care providers were suggested to develop targeted intervention according to the influencing factors.