Background: The exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) rate in Indonesia is lower than expected. Among the key factors affecting breastfeeding practices, paternal support has been suggested.Purpose: To explore the role of paternal support in EBF failure among 3-month-old infants. Methods: This sequential mixed-methods study, part of an ongoing cohort study in West Java in early 2022, included 225 infants. The parents of 3-month-old infants were interviewed. Paternal support was assessed using a 15-point validated questionnaire for a total score of 15–60 points. Multivariate binary regression was used to determine adjusted odds ratios (aORs). The qualitative exploration was based on in-depth interviews (IDIs) and forum group discussions (FGDs) following the quantitative survey. Results: Of the 225 infants, 52.2% were no longer EBF. High paternal support (greater than the mean score) of breastfeeding was determined in 52.9% of cases (mean± standard deviation, 38.7±6.7 for the overall population vs. 37.5±6.3 and 40.2±6.8 for infants who were and were not EBF at 3 months of age, respectively). Low paternal support was associated with an increased EBF failure rate (aOR, 2.84; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.46–5.54). Other variables that remained as predictors in the final model were a low birth rate (aOR, 7.35; 95% CI, 1.73–31.20), negative maternal attitude (aOR, 3.31; 95% CI, 1.63–6.75), lower self-efficacy (aOR, 4.82; 95% CI, 2.43–9.57), and lower maternal education level (aOR, 2.87; 95% CI, 1.03– 8.03). The IDIs and FGD observed the importance of the father’s support of the mother and EBF. The qualitative exploration revealed a lack of knowledge about EBF as a parental support barrier. Conclusion Paternal support is important for EBF. Paternal involvement in EBF planning encouraged themother to continue. Plans that include fathers in breastfeeding education may help increase paternal support.

Background: The exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) rate in Indonesia is lower than expected. Among the key factors affecting breastfeeding practices, paternal support has been suggested.Purpose: To explore the role of paternal support in EBF failure among 3-month-old infants. Methods: This sequential mixed-methods study, part of an ongoing cohort study in West Java in early 2022, included 225 infants. The parents of 3-month-old infants were interviewed. Paternal support was assessed using a 15-point validated questionnaire for a total score of 15–60 points. Multivariate binary regression was used to determine adjusted odds ratios (aORs). The qualitative exploration was based on in-depth interviews (IDIs) and forum group discussions (FGDs) following the quantitative survey. Results: Of the 225 infants, 52.2% were no longer EBF. High paternal support (greater than the mean score) of breastfeeding was determined in 52.9% of cases (mean± standard deviation, 38.7±6.7 for the overall population vs. 37.5±6.3 and 40.2±6.8 for infants who were and were not EBF at 3 months of age, respectively). Low paternal support was associated with an increased EBF failure rate (aOR, 2.84; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.46–5.54). Other variables that remained as predictors in the final model were a low birth rate (aOR, 7.35; 95% CI, 1.73–31.20), negative maternal attitude (aOR, 3.31; 95% CI, 1.63–6.75), lower self-efficacy (aOR, 4.82; 95% CI, 2.43–9.57), and lower maternal education level (aOR, 2.87; 95% CI, 1.03– 8.03). The IDIs and FGD observed the importance of the father’s support of the mother and EBF. The qualitative exploration revealed a lack of knowledge about EBF as a parental support barrier. Conclusion Paternal support is important for EBF. Paternal involvement in EBF planning encouraged themother to continue. Plans that include fathers in breastfeeding education may help increase paternal support.

Background: The exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) rate in Indonesia is lower than expected. Among the key factors affecting breastfeeding practices, paternal support has been suggested.Purpose: To explore the role of paternal support in EBF failure among 3-month-old infants. Methods: This sequential mixed-methods study, part of an ongoing cohort study in West Java in early 2022, included 225 infants. The parents of 3-month-old infants were interviewed. Paternal support was assessed using a 15-point validated questionnaire for a total score of 15–60 points. Multivariate binary regression was used to determine adjusted odds ratios (aORs). The qualitative exploration was based on in-depth interviews (IDIs) and forum group discussions (FGDs) following the quantitative survey. Results: Of the 225 infants, 52.2% were no longer EBF. High paternal support (greater than the mean score) of breastfeeding was determined in 52.9% of cases (mean± standard deviation, 38.7±6.7 for the overall population vs. 37.5±6.3 and 40.2±6.8 for infants who were and were not EBF at 3 months of age, respectively). Low paternal support was associated with an increased EBF failure rate (aOR, 2.84; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.46–5.54). Other variables that remained as predictors in the final model were a low birth rate (aOR, 7.35; 95% CI, 1.73–31.20), negative maternal attitude (aOR, 3.31; 95% CI, 1.63–6.75), lower self-efficacy (aOR, 4.82; 95% CI, 2.43–9.57), and lower maternal education level (aOR, 2.87; 95% CI, 1.03– 8.03). The IDIs and FGD observed the importance of the father’s support of the mother and EBF. The qualitative exploration revealed a lack of knowledge about EBF as a parental support barrier. Conclusion Paternal support is important for EBF. Paternal involvement in EBF planning encouraged themother to continue. Plans that include fathers in breastfeeding education may help increase paternal support.

Background: The exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) rate in Indonesia is lower than expected. Among the key factors affecting breastfeeding practices, paternal support has been suggested.Purpose: To explore the role of paternal support in EBF failure among 3-month-old infants. Methods: This sequential mixed-methods study, part of an ongoing cohort study in West Java in early 2022, included 225 infants. The parents of 3-month-old infants were interviewed. Paternal support was assessed using a 15-point validated questionnaire for a total score of 15–60 points. Multivariate binary regression was used to determine adjusted odds ratios (aORs). The qualitative exploration was based on in-depth interviews (IDIs) and forum group discussions (FGDs) following the quantitative survey. Results: Of the 225 infants, 52.2% were no longer EBF. High paternal support (greater than the mean score) of breastfeeding was determined in 52.9% of cases (mean± standard deviation, 38.7±6.7 for the overall population vs. 37.5±6.3 and 40.2±6.8 for infants who were and were not EBF at 3 months of age, respectively). Low paternal support was associated with an increased EBF failure rate (aOR, 2.84; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.46–5.54). Other variables that remained as predictors in the final model were a low birth rate (aOR, 7.35; 95% CI, 1.73–31.20), negative maternal attitude (aOR, 3.31; 95% CI, 1.63–6.75), lower self-efficacy (aOR, 4.82; 95% CI, 2.43–9.57), and lower maternal education level (aOR, 2.87; 95% CI, 1.03– 8.03). The IDIs and FGD observed the importance of the father’s support of the mother and EBF. The qualitative exploration revealed a lack of knowledge about EBF as a parental support barrier. Conclusion Paternal support is important for EBF. Paternal involvement in EBF planning encouraged themother to continue. Plans that include fathers in breastfeeding education may help increase paternal support.

Introduction: Initiating and sustaining breastfeeding are influence by many factors including involvement, attitude and support from the partner. Research on breastfeeding mostly investigate maternal factors, although the father’s behaviour and role may influence the success of breastfeeding. Hence, this study aimed to determine the associations of father’s attitude and support with the duration of exclusive breastfeeding new parents. Methods: The study involved 104 new parents in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, recruited at three randomly selected antenatal clinics using purposive sampling. Fathers’ breastfeeding attitude was measured using Iowa-Infant-Feeding-Attitude-Scale, whereas paternal support using Subjective Norms and Paternal-Breastfeeding-Influence-Scale questionnaires. Mothers were asked about breastfeeding practice. Results: Exclusive breastfeeding duration rates at six months was 27.9%. The average score for paternal attitude on breastfeeding was 61.0 ±6.3, indicating father’s positive attitude towards breastfeeding. The mean score of paternal breastfeeding supports for subjective norms surrounding breastfeeding and overall support score were 4.3+0.6 and 4.06+0.6, respectively, demonstrating frequent paternal engaging and support in breastfeeding. Duration of exclusive breastfeeding were positively associated with the paternal attitude (β=0.235, p=0.027) and overall mean score for breastfeeding support (β=2.166, p=0.028), but negatively associated with support strategies score (β= -2.203, p=0.026). Conclusion: Overall, paternal support and positive attitude were associated with breastfeeding duration. It is important to increase public awareness on the important roles of fathers during the breastfeeding process such as emphasizing the husband’s role in supporting their wives to breastfeed, as well as the importance of paternal role in caring the baby, especially among new couples.