<![CDATA[Background: Exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months of life is essential for optimal infant growth, development, and health. Maternal breastfeeding self-efficacy is an important psychological factor that may support the continuation of exclusive breastfeeding. Emotional support from husbands may contribute to maternal confidence by providing empathy, affection, attention, and psychological reassurance. However, evidence concerning the specific relationship between husbands’ emotional support and maternal breastfeeding self-efficacy remains limited in the local context. Objective: This study aimed to determine the relationship between husbands’ emotional support and maternal breastfeeding self-efficacy in exclusive breastfeeding in the working area of Kota Tengah Public Health Center, Gorontalo City. Methods: A quantitative study with a cross-sectional design was conducted from January 10 to February 12, 2026. The study involved 82 breastfeeding mothers selected using purposive sampling. Data were collected using a demographic questionnaire, a 14-item questionnaire assessing husbands’ emotional support, and the Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale–Short Form (BSES-SF). Descriptive statistics were used for univariate analysis, while the Kolmogorov–Smirnov test was used to assess data normality. The relationship between husbands’ emotional support and maternal breastfeeding self-efficacy was analyzed using the Pearson Product-Moment correlation test. Results: Most respondents reported high levels of emotional support from their husbands, namely 80 respondents (97.6%), while 2 respondents (2.4%) reported low emotional support. Regarding breastfeeding self-efficacy, 63 mothers (76.8%) had high self-efficacy, 18 mothers (22.0%) had moderate self-efficacy, and 1 mother (1.2%) had low self-efficacy. Pearson correlation analysis demonstrated a statistically significant positive relationship between husbands’ emotional support and maternal breastfeeding self-efficacy (p = 0.018; r = 0.262). The correlation was classified as weak but positive. Conclusion: Husbands’ emotional support was significantly associated with maternal breastfeeding self-efficacy. Although the strength of the relationship was weak, the positive direction indicates that better emotional support from husbands tends to be accompanied by higher maternal confidence in breastfeeding.]]>
