The hindi version of the breastfeeding self-efficacy scale-short form: Reliability and validity assessment

Background: Despite the cultural sanctity and elevation of breastfeeding practices, nearly one in two Indian women nationwide are unable to practice exclusive breastfeeding (EBF). Early identification of mothers at risk of reduced breastfeeding through a suitable instrument can enable targeted interventions for breastfeeding support. Objectives: We conducted this study with the objectives of translation into Hindi and to psychometrically test the Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale-Short Form (BSES-SF) and to ascertain the sociodemographic and other correlates of breastfeeding self-efficacy. Methods: The BSES-SF was translated into Hindi using a back and forth translation process to ensure linguistic validity. We enrolled a total of 210 married women who were mothers of infants at an urban primary health center in Delhi, India. Results: The Cronbach's alpha for the Hindi translation of the BSES-SF was 0.87 with all except one correlation coefficient Conclusion: The Hindi version of the BSES-SF demonstrates good reliability and validity and can also explain previous and planned breastfeeding behavior in mothers of infants.