How Does the Breastfeeding Environment Affect Satisfaction? A Scale Development Study

Background: Women need a safe and comfortable environment to breastfeed their babies. The quality of breastfeeding environments in social areas is important for women’s breastfeeding satisfaction. Aim: The aim of this study was to develop a measurement tool for the evaluation of breastfeeding environments and to examine the impact of the quality of breastfeeding environments in social areas on breastfeeding satisfaction. Method: The first phase of the study was conducted in methodological design and the second phase in cross-sectional design. The draft scale was applied to 365 women who had breastfeeding experiences in social environments during the postpartum 6 months–3 years period. In the first stage, scale development analyses were applied. In the second stage, the developed scale was applied to 255 women. Frequency, percentage, Cronbach’s α coefficient, and correlation analysis were used in the analysis of the data. Results: The Ideal Breastfeeding Environment Assessment Scale, consisting of 23 items and four subdimensions, was obtained in the study. As a result of the application of the scale in the second stage, the mean score of the breastfeeding environments evaluated by the women was 23.43 ± 8.36. A statistically significant moderate–weak correlation was found between the ideality of breastfeeding environments and the satisfaction levels of women ( p < .001). Conclusion: It was determined that the developed scale is a valid and reliable measurement tool that can be used to evaluate breastfeeding environments. As the quality of breastfeeding environments increases, women’s breastfeeding satisfaction increases.