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Volume 13
Issue 22
10.3390/healthcare13222938
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Article

Nurturing the Will: Unraveling Associative Factors of Exclusive Breastfeeding Intentions Among Primigravida in Saudi Arabia

by
Asmaa Mohamed Ali AlAbd
1,
Aziza Ibrahim Mohamed Hassan
2,
Salwa Ali Marzouk
3,
Mahmoud Abdelwahab Khedr
4,5,*,
Jawza Hmeid Hmood Alrashidi
6,
Maha Sanat Alreshidi
7,
Abdulhafith Alharbi
1 and
Sarah Sulieman Al Nawasreh
8
1
Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing Department, College of Nursing, University of Hail, Hail 81481, Saudi Arabia
2
Department of Nursing, College of Applied Medical Science, University of Bisha, Bisha 61922, Saudi Arabia
3
Maternal and Child Health Nursing Department, College of Nursing, University of Hail, Hail 81481, Saudi Arabia
4
College of Nursing, University of Hafr Albatin, Hafr Albatin 39511, Saudi Arabia
5
Department of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Alexandria University, Alexandria 21511, Egypt
6
Community Health Nursing Department, College of Nursing, University of Hail, Hail 81481, Saudi Arabia
7
Administration Department, College of Nursing, University of Hail, Hail 81481, Saudi Arabia
8
College of Nursing, University of Hail, Hail 81481, Saudi Arabia
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Healthcare 2025, 13(22), 2938; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13222938
Submission received: 12 September 2025 / Revised: 7 November 2025 / Accepted: 10 November 2025 / Published: 17 November 2025
Review Reports Versions Notes

Abstract

Background: Exclusive breastfeeding is widely acknowledged as beneficial for a baby’s health and development. However, Saudi Arabia remains one of the few countries where this practice is still uncommon. This study explores the factors associated with exclusive breastfeeding intention among primigravida women in Saudi Arabia. Methods: A cross-sectional design and systematic random sampling technique were utilized to collect data from a total of 436 primigravida women. Results: More than half of the participants (58.3%) expressed high intentions toward exclusive breastfeeding. The most significant modifiable predictors of exclusive breastfeeding intention among these women were age, education, nationality, and planned pregnancy. Additionally, adequate knowledge of breastfeeding (Adjusted Odds Ratio [AOR]: 0.402, Confidence Interval [CI]: 0.226–0.717) and a positive attitude toward breastfeeding (AOR: 0.396, CI: 0.223–0.705) emerged as independent predictors of high breastfeeding intention. Conclusions: The study revealed that while more than half of the primigravida women demonstrated a high intention to practice exclusive breastfeeding (EBF), this level of intention is still considered inadequate for achieving optimal breastfeeding practices. Key factors influencing their breastfeeding attitudes included maternal age, education level, ethnicity, pregnancy planning, and knowledge about breastfeeding.
Keywords: associative factors; exclusive breastfeeding intentions; primigravida associative factors; exclusive breastfeeding intentions; primigravida

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

AlAbd, A.M.A.; Mohamed Hassan, A.I.; Marzouk, S.A.; Khedr, M.A.; Alrashidi, J.H.H.; Alreshidi, M.S.; Alharbi, A.; Al Nawasreh, S.S. Nurturing the Will: Unraveling Associative Factors of Exclusive Breastfeeding Intentions Among Primigravida in Saudi Arabia. Healthcare 2025, 13, 2938. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13222938

AMA Style

AlAbd AMA, Mohamed Hassan AI, Marzouk SA, Khedr MA, Alrashidi JHH, Alreshidi MS, Alharbi A, Al Nawasreh SS. Nurturing the Will: Unraveling Associative Factors of Exclusive Breastfeeding Intentions Among Primigravida in Saudi Arabia. Healthcare. 2025; 13(22):2938. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13222938

Chicago/Turabian Style

AlAbd, Asmaa Mohamed Ali, Aziza Ibrahim Mohamed Hassan, Salwa Ali Marzouk, Mahmoud Abdelwahab Khedr, Jawza Hmeid Hmood Alrashidi, Maha Sanat Alreshidi, Abdulhafith Alharbi, and Sarah Sulieman Al Nawasreh. 2025. "Nurturing the Will: Unraveling Associative Factors of Exclusive Breastfeeding Intentions Among Primigravida in Saudi Arabia" Healthcare 13, no. 22: 2938. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13222938

APA Style

AlAbd, A. M. A., Mohamed Hassan, A. I., Marzouk, S. A., Khedr, M. A., Alrashidi, J. H. H., Alreshidi, M. S., Alharbi, A., & Al Nawasreh, S. S. (2025). Nurturing the Will: Unraveling Associative Factors of Exclusive Breastfeeding Intentions Among Primigravida in Saudi Arabia. Healthcare, 13(22), 2938. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13222938

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