The influence of breastfeeding technique knowledge and husband’s support on breastfeeding self-efficacy among postpartum mothers at Dr. Ramelan Naval Central Hospital, Surabaya

Background: Breastfeeding self-efficacy (BSE), defined as a mother's confidence in her ability to breastfeed, plays a critical role in achieving exclusive breastfeeding. Factors such as knowledge of breastfeeding techniques and husband’s support are hypothesized to influence BSE. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the association between breastfeeding technique knowledge, husband’s support, and BSE among postpartum mothers at Dr. Ramelan Naval Central Hospital, Surabaya. Methods: This research was conducted using an analytical observational method with a cross-sectional approach. The dependent variable is the Breastfeeding self-efficacy. The independent variables are breastfeeding technique knowledge and husband’s support. The population comprised all postpartum mothers receiving care in the postnatal care unit, with a sample of 54 respondents selected via simple random sampling. Data were collected using structured questionnaires and analyzed using the Chi-square test (α = 0.05). Results: The Chi-square test revealed significant associations between BSE and both breastfeeding technique knowledge (p = 0.000) and husband’s support (p = 0.006). Conclusion: Knowledge of breastfeeding techniques and husband’s support were significantly associated with higher breastfeeding self-efficacy among postpartum mothers at Dr. Ramelan Naval Central Hospital, Surabaya. Future research should explore broader population groups and adopt longitudinal designs to better understand the long-term impact of educational and support-based interventions on breastfeeding outcomes.