The BBAT showed strong correlation with breast feeding selfeffi cacy, indicating that a more effi cient breast feeding technique is
associated with increased confi dence in breast feeding an infant. This
suggests that those who get the technique correct when their infant
is small may continue to breast feed exclusively for longer as it
enhances their confi dence. Blyth et al. (2002) and Baghurst et al.
(2007) both showed that BSES at one week post partum was a strong
predictor of breast feeding in first-time mothers. This was largely
independent of other factors (intention, maternal education, smoking) which are usually indicative of breast feeding duration. They
recommended that breast feeding self-efficacy should be used to
identify women at risk of early cessation of breast feeding. Entwistle
et al. (2010) also suggested that health professionals should take
psychosocial aspects of breast feeding support that influence selfefficacy into account when counselling women.