Abstract
This study determined the perceptions of obstetric physiotherapists on the state of breast-feeding in South Africa and their contribution to breast-feeding education. A questionnaire to the 134 members of the Obstetric Association of the South African Society of Physiotherapy was completed by 36 practising respondents and 23 non-practitioners. The total response rate was 44%. A significantly larger group of practising respondents who had completed their training in the seventies returned the questionnaire. About 93% of respondents felt their basic training in breast-feeding had been inadequate. Almost 56% has received further training in breast-feeding during the previous five years. Regarding the impact of the South African national breast-feeding week campaign, 47% of respondents perceived a change in attitudes toward breastfeeding and 22% a change in breast-feeding practices. It is concluded that the perceptions of other groups of health professionals, the educational needs of parents and effective educational strategies also need investigation.
Highlights
The incidence and duration of breast-feeding in industrialised countries[1], and amongthe more affluent communities in South Africa, are on the increases This is possibly due to the influence of a complexity of factors, including an increased emphasis on promo tional and educational activities
How ever, be derived since no record is available of how many members of the total population of the Obstetric Association were practising at that stage
It is not clear how many persons practising as obstetric physiotherapists are not members of the Obstetric Associ ation
Summary
The incidence and duration of breast-feeding in industrialised countries[1], and amongthe more affluent communities in South Africa, are on the increases This is possibly due to the influence of a complexity of factors, including an increased emphasis on promo tional and educational activities. In South Africa a breast-feeding campaign has been running since 1987. Since the 1980’s there appears to have been an increased interest in research related to breast-feeding. A number of South African reports on breast-feeding attitudes and practices of mothers have recently been published3*1 . As well as a few reports on support for breast-feeding mothers. A few studies have been reported in the literature on the knowledge, attitudes or prac tices of health professionals in respect of breast-feeding, no reports on health professionals’ contribution to breast-feeding education in South Africa has been published up to date. The aim of this study was to determine the perceptions of obstetric physiother apists on the state of breast-feeding in South Africa, and to assess their contribution to breast-feeding education, in the form of ante- and postnatal classes
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