Abstract:
Background: Promoting optimal breastfeeding has immediate and long lasting benefit for child
by reducing morbidity and mortality. In Ethiopia, only about 58 percent of infants less than 6
months are exclusively breastfed. Intensive search of literature was done and one study was
obtained which was done using the theory of planned behaviour in the north Ethiopia. But that
study didn’t validate tool according to our country context. However, using validated tool has a
paramount importance to determine determinants of intention to exclusive breastfeeding by
adhering to local context, and thereby avoids the cross cultural difference. Therefore this study
aims at developing and validating tool of exclusive breastfeeding by using the theory of planned
behaviour following the Icek Ajzen’s advice
Objective: To develop and validate the theory of planned behaviour questionnaire on exclusive
breast feeding and to assess mothers’ intension to exclusive breastfeeding in the study area.
Method: A community based cross-sectional study design was employed from April 13-30,
2017. The first three phases of a research programme employing the theory are described: belief
elicitation, questionnaire development and a pilot study. First, an elicitation study was conducted
to identify the modal salient beliefs. Then, the questionnaire was constructed, incorporating all
the key theoretical constructs and both direct and belief-based measures.
Result: The Items have shown good validity and reliability. Subjective norm explained 23.29 %
of the variance in intention while attitude and perceived behavioural control explained 20.59%
and 13.67% respectively. Theory of Planned Behaviour explained 58.45% of the variance in
intention to EBF. The cronbach’s alpha of items of attitude and subjective norm is. 744 and .796
and respectively, while items of PBC have poor reliability (cronbach’s alpha=.529) hence need
modification. Attitude has shown strong association with intension to Exclusive breastfeeding
[standardizedβ = .427at 95.0%, CI (.328, .497)]
Conclusion: The items are valid and have good internal consistency (reliable) in general while
some items of perceived behavioural control may need modification
Recommendation: Studies conducted on this topic by using this model are rare that this study
alone may not satisfy this shortage so another study might be important. The tool is valid and
reliable so that anyone who wants to conduct study on this topic can utilize this tool.
