Development and validation of the Infant Feeding Intentions Scale

Most assessments of infant feeding intentions are based on a three-category response format: breast, formula or mixed. This format does not account for strength or duration of intentions. There is a need in breastfeeding research for a tool that quantifies the strength of intentions to provide human milk as the sole source of milk throughout the first 6 mo. The Feeding Intentions (FI) scale was designed to fill this need. It probes level of agreement (very much agree, somewhat agree, unsure, somewhat disagree, very much disagree; scored 4, 3, 2, 1, 0 respectively) with 5 infant feeding statements. The first 2 items probe intentions to initiate breastfeeding (BF). The subsequent items assess intent to BF exclusively for 1, 3 or 6 mo. Total FI score = (mean score items 1, 2) + (sum of items 3, 4, 5). Possible score thus ranges from 0–16. Content validity was assessed in a pilot sample interviewed in the last trimester of pregnancy (n=88), and minor modifications in wording were made. Nearly all women (98%) responded that they planned to BF, but FI scores ranged from 0 to 16 (mean, 11.8 ± 3.9). At 1 mo postpartum (pp), the percentage of women who were exclusively BF was 0, 33, 40, 50, and 86% in the FI score categories 0–3.5, 4–7.5, 8–11.5, 12–15.5, and 16, respectively. Construct validity is being further tested in a sample of 200 mothers who completed the scale within the first 24 h pp and are being followed to 6 mo pp.