Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42260128›Full record

Observational studyScientific reports2026

Mothers' attitudes toward exclusive breastfeeding explored using a questionnaire based on the transtheoretical model in an observational study.

Vincenzo Restivo, Federica Geraci, Roberta Virone, Sabina Paolizzo, Marianna Maranto, Antonio Maiorana, Alessandra Fallucca, Alessandra Casuccio

Abstract readObservational Study
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Observational study in Scientific reports, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Vincenzo RestivoSchool of Medicine, University Kore of Enna, Enna, 94100, Italy.
Federica GeraciDepartment of Health Promotion, Mother and Child Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialities, University of Palermo, Palermo, 90127, Italy.
Roberta VironeDepartment of Health Promotion, Mother and Child Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialities, University of Palermo, Palermo, 90127, Italy.
Sabina PaolizzoDepartment of Health Promotion, Mother and Child Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialities, University of Palermo, Palermo, 90127, Italy.
Marianna MarantoHCU Obstetrics and Gynaecology, ARNAS Civico Di Cristina-Benfratelli Hospital, Palermo, 90127, Italy.
Antonio MaioranaHCU Obstetrics and Gynaecology, ARNAS Civico Di Cristina-Benfratelli Hospital, Palermo, 90127, Italy.
Alessandra FalluccaDepartment of Health Promotion, Mother and Child Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialities, University of Palermo, Palermo, 90127, Italy.
Alessandra CasuccioDepartment of Health Promotion, Mother and Child Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialities, University of Palermo, Palermo, 90127, Italy. alessandra.casuccio@unipa.it.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The WHO European Region has among the lowest rates of exclusive breastfeeding (EBF), with substantial variability across countries. In Italy, EBF rates remain below WHO targets, particularly in Southern regions. Several tools have been proposed to assess mothers' attitudes toward breastfeeding, although no gold standard has been established. This study aimed to explore mothers' attitudes toward breastfeeding using a questionnaire based on the Trans-Theoretical Model (TTM). An observational study was conducted in two Sicilian hospitals, where mothers were enrolled during postpartum hospitalization and interviewed using a structured questionnaire. The most frequently observed stage of change was action (39%, n = 123/318), followed by contemplation (22%, n = 70/318), pre-contemplation (21%, n = 67/318), and determination (18%, n = 58/318). A significant trend was observed across stages of change in relation to infant feeding patterns during hospitalization (p < 0.0001), with higher stages showing a greater proportion of exclusive breastfeeding. The TTM-based approach may provide preliminary insights into mothers' attitudes toward breastfeeding, particularly in the pre-contemplation and contemplation stages of change. However, given the exploratory design, further studies are needed to refine the questionnaire and to assess its performance in longitudinal settings.

Indexed as

Breast FeedingHealth Knowledge, Attitudes, PracticeMothersAdultFemaleHumansItalySurveys and QuestionnairesYoung AdultDiClemente and prochaska’s trans-theoretical modelEBFExclusive breastfeedingMaternal attitudes toward breastfeedingObservational studyStages of change

Identifiers

PMID42260128
PMCPMC13490604

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.