Testing Orem’s self-care deficit theory : dependent care agency for duration of breast-feeding

Aims : The purpose of this study was to test of Orem’s theory of self-care deficit. Specifically, limiting factors influencing the duration of breast-feeding were analyzed with Orem model to clarify the ability needed by a mother for continuing breast-feeding.
Background : The mean incidence of mothers with breast-feeding, mixtrophic breast-feeding or bottled milk is 52.6%, 43.2%, and 4.8%, respectively until one month after birth. However, the incidence of mothers with breast-feeding decreases to 46.2% just one month after birth. Although midwives instruct the importance of breast-feeding and promote breast-feeding by using various kinds of empirical care, there is not the standardized care with a high effect for continuation of breastfeeding.
Method : descriptive study.
Design Methodology : One hundred thirty-three mothers who delivered their babies in the University Hospital were included in this research. The hospital experienced around 400 birth in a year. Sixty-nine mothers of them fed a baby with breast milk (the breast-feeding group). The other mothers fed a baby with bottled milk or with bottled milk and breast milk (the mixed group).
Results : According to Orem model, comments obtained by interviews were categorized, and we found 3 factors impairing continuation of breast-feeding, “crying of a child”, “inappropriate advice” and “previous experience”. The limiting factors were related to each other, and inexperience of a life with a baby, the time-consuming life without composure, and unskilled responses to the shortage of milk enhanced restriction of adaptability caused by a difference between an imagined baby and a real baby.
Conclusions:This study support’s Orem’s model. Factors influencing the duration of breast-feeding were clarifyed by Orem’s limitaitions factors.