Breastfeeding Knowledge Research Articles

Breastfeeding Intentions, Attitudes, and Knowledge Among Medical Students in Croatia.

Medical students should have adequate knowledge and positive attitudes toward breastfeeding to support breastfeeding dyads. No studies in Croatia have explored breastfeeding knowledge, attitudes or intentions among medical students. To investigate breastfeeding knowledge, attitudes and intentions among medical students at the University of Split School of Medicine. A cross-sectional study was conducted from March to April 2023, using online and written questionnaires. All medical students without children were eligible to participate. The validated Breastfeeding Intentions, Attitudes, and Knowledge Questionnaire (BIAKQ) was used. Sociodemographic data were collected. Analysis was conducted using descriptive statistics, t tests, and Mann-Whitney U test. A total of 357 medical students participated (response rate 64.1%). There was no significant difference between preclinical and clinical students. Students who attended the elective "Breastfeeding Medicine" demonstrated significantly more positive attitudes toward breastfeeding (Mean Rank = 215.62) than those who did not attend (Mean Rank = 173.58; U= 5468.50, p = 0.010); however, no significant difference was found in knowledge or intentions. Female students had significantly more positive attitudes compared to male students (Mean Rank = 189.47 vs. Mean Rank = 150.55, U = 9796.50, p = 0.001), whereas male students expressed significantly more positive intentions (M = 36.97, SD = 5.26 vs. M = 34.44, SD = 5.86, t = -3.69, p = 0.002). The mean knowledge score was 11.92 (SD = 1.43) out of 13 points. Negative attitudes towards breastfeeding beyond 1 year and breastfeeding in public were found. Despite adequate breastfeeding knowledge, some medical students demonstrated negative attitudes and intentions toward breastfeeding. Including breastfeeding education into core medical subjects focusing on the importance of breastfeeding for maternal and infant health and the risks of formula feeding could help improve attitudes, especially during the clinical years. It would also be important to address prevailing prejudices.

Effect of Group Antenatal Care on Breastfeeding Knowledge and Practices Among Pregnant Women in Ghana: Findings from a Cluster-Randomized Controlled Trial

Effect of Group Antenatal Care on Breastfeeding Knowledge and Practices Among Pregnant Women in Ghana: Findings from a Cluster-Randomized Controlled Trial

Attitudes and Perception of Nursing Mothers towards Exclusive Breastfeeding in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT)

Breastfeeding is one of the oldest practices known to mankind because the breastmilk contains the essential fats, proteins, carbohydrates, and immunological factors needed for infants to thrive. This study assessed the attitude and perception of nursing mothers towards exclusive breastfeeding. An evaluation was conducted to assess the attitude and perception using a qualitative research method which involved 401 nursing mothers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) who were selected randomly to answer questionnaires regarding their knowledge and practice of exclusive breastfeeding. The data was analysed using the chi-square test. The result was presented using frequency tables and charts, the chi-square was used to test for hypotheses between variables. 344 of 401 respondents (85.7%) have a good understanding of exclusive breastfeeding. 280 of 401 respondents (69.8%) practice exclusive breastfeeding, 167 of 401 respondents (41.64%) were informed about exclusive breastfeeding from healthcare practitioners and 121 of 401 respondents (30.17%) heard about it from family members. From this study, we derived that the level of education, marital status, income level and religious beliefs have no significant effect on exclusive breastfeeding. This study highlighted that majority of the respondents have knowledge of exclusive breastfeeding and practice it. It is necessary to provide lactation services especially to new mothers during the antenatal and postnatal care, fathers should be made aware of the benefits of exclusive breastfeeding and the importance of supporting the nursing mothers by feeding them healthy meals which would help nourish both the mother and infant. Exclusive breastfeeding is recommended for the first six months of a child’s life.

OPTIMISATION OF THE AYAHASI WEBSITE (OPSI) AS A SELF-LEARNING MEDIA FOR THE AYAHASI INDONESIA COMMUNITY

The exclusive breastfeeding rate in Indonesia has not met the national target. A study shows that father's support has a positive impact on breastfeeding success. However, fathers' involvement in breastfeeding support has not been optimized, and one reason is low knowledge of breastfeeding. To support the AyahASI community, this community service was aimed at developing and optimising the AyahASI website and developing educational material in the form of posters and pocketbooks. AyahASI website has been developed to be a self-learning media that can be accessed independently by father. By optimizing the website, it is hoped that this platform can provide more comprehensive, interactive, and user-friendly information on various topics around breastfeeding, the role of fathers in parenting, and family health. An educational tool about breastfeeding was developed, which includes a 7 poster and a pocketbook with engaging and creative design to attract readers. In conclusion, AyahASI website look and content had been improve that can be suitable for father breasfeeding information channel.

Effects of Nurse-Led Intervention for Mother-Infant Dyads on Breastfeeding, Infant Health Outcomes.

This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of nurse-led interventions in enhancing breastfeeding women's knowledge and practices and in preventing diarrhea among their infants. The study was conducted in rural areas of Haryana, India, and used the survey design and pre-experimental research design in Phase I and Phase II, respectively. Mothers who had recently delivered a baby were identified using the birth register at the panchayat office, and 200 mothers who met the inclusion criteria were chosen using purposive sampling technique. The data were collected by interview approach using the knowledge questionnaire on breastfeeding, observational checklist on practice of breastfeeding, diarrhea assessment tool, and the duration of data collection was between May to August 2022. In Phase I, exclusive and non-exclusive breastfeeding mothers were surveyed regarding the occurrence of diarrhea among infants. In Phase II, non-exclusive breastfeeding mothers' knowledge and practice were assessed, and then nurseled intervention on breastfeeding was administrated and on 30th, 60th, and 90th days, post-test was done. The study's findings demonstrate that the knowledge and practice scores varied significantly across different tests, from pre-test 1 (6.73 ± 1.94) to post-test 3 (16.19 ± 3.04), (F=294.11, p < .000) for knowledge, and for practice pre-test 1 (23.41 ± 8.90) to post-test 3 (101.81 ± 22.4), (F=535.98, p < .000) in the intervention group. Further, in the intervention group, there was decrease in diarrhea occurrence among various observations (Q=60.609, p < .000). The nurse-led intervention of breastfeeding is an effective teaching technique to improve the knowledge and practice of mothers, as well as it helps to reduce the occurrence of diarrhea among infants, there by it can contribute to reducing the infant mortality rate.

Assessment of knowledge, attitude, practice and barriers of exclusive breastfeeding among nursing mothers in Makurdi Local Government Area of Benue State

Introduction: Over the years, breastfeeding has been a universal means of feeding infants and a common feature of all cultures since the survival of mankind. It is a phenomenon that is deeply rooted in the tradition of human culture. Although, breastfeeding practices have fluctuated over the years, it is widely regarded as an unequalled way of providing ideal nutrition for the healthy growth and development of infants. This study aims to assess the knowledge, attitude, practice and some barriers of exclusive breastfeeding among nursing mothers in Makurdi Local Government Area of Benue State. Method: This is a descriptive cross-sectional study to assess the knowledge, attitude, practice and barriers of nursing mothers towards Exclusive Breast Feeding (EBF). An interviewer-self-administered pretested questionnaire was used to collect data on maternal knowledge, Attitude, Practice and barriers of EBF. The modified Blooms criteria was adapted to grade knowledge, attitude and practice as either Good or poor. Statistical significance was considered at 95% confidence interval. Results: The results from this study showed that nursing Mother’s knowledge of EBF was good, 84.0% of the respondents displayed good knowledge of EBF, good attitude towards EBF was at 54.7% and the practice of EBF was 67.3%. Notable barriers to EBF includes, poor knowledge of EBF among nursing mothers (75.0%), followed by concurrent breast disease 6 months post-natal (66.7%), next was women who have never attended Antenatal Care Clinic (ANC) 62.5%. Conclusion: These findings suggest good knowledge and practice of EBF, however there is need to institute intervening measures aimed at reducing barriers associated with EBF in the study community.

Effect of rooming-in kangaroo mother care on breastfeeding and behavioral status of full-term newborns.

We aimed to assess the effects of rooming-in kangaroo mother care (KMC) on the breastfeeding and behavioral status of full-term newborns. Full-term newborns born from June to December 2021 were divided into Group A (n = 50) and Group B (n = 50) using a random number table. The rooming-in routine nursing intervention and KMC were given to Group A (n = 50) and Group B, respectively. The outcomes were compared. The scores of breastfeeding knowledge, breastfeeding skills, and sense of responsibility for breastfeeding of Group B were higher than those of Group A (p < 0.05). The breastfeeding rate and lactation yield within 3 days of Group B were higher than those of Group A (p < 0.05). Compared with Group A, Group B had higher effective sucking times of newborns and lower behavioral status scores 1, 2, and 3 days after birth, and shorter duration of crying after invasive operation (p < 0.05). The newborns in Group B had better sleep quality, longer sleep time, and lower procedural pain score than those of Group A (p < 0.05). Rooming-in KMC improves the maternal breastfeeding self-efficacy, breastfeeding rate, and lactation yield, ameliorates the behavioral status and sleep quality of newborns, shortens the crying time and relieves the procedural pain.

Father support breastfeeding self-efficacy positively affects exclusive breastfeeding at 6 weeks postpartum and its influencing factors in Southeast China: a multi-centre, cross-sectional study

BackgroundThe exclusive breastfeeding condition in China is not optimism now. Maternal breastfeeding self-efficacy stands as a pivotal factor influencing exclusive breastfeeding. Interestingly, studies have suggested that father support breastfeeding self-efficacy is a pivotal mediator in infant breastfeeding. Thus, the current research aimed to investigate the association between father support breastfeeding self-efficacy and exclusive breastfeeding at six weeks postpartum, and the influencing factors of father support breastfeeding self-efficacy.MethodsThis research was structured as a multi-centre cross-sectional study, involving 328 fathers, whose partners were six weeks postpartum, and recruited from two public hospitals in Southeast China. Self-designed demographic questionnaires, namely, Father Support Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale-Short Form, Breastfeeding Knowledge Questionnaire, Positive Affect Scale and the 14-item Fatigue Scale, were applied. Descriptive statistics, Chi-square test, logistic regression univariate analysis and multiple linear regression were used to analyse data.ResultsResults indicate a significant difference between the infant feeding methods at six weeks postpartum and fathers with different levels of support breastfeeding self-efficacy (p < 0.05). Particularly, father support breastfeeding self-efficacy positively affected exclusive breastfeeding at six weeks postpartum after adjusting all the demographic characteristics of fathers (OR: 2.407; 95% CI: 1.017–4.121). Moreover, results show that the significant influencing factors of father support breastfeeding self-efficacy include breastfeeding knowledge, fatigue, positive affect, successfully experienced helping mothers to breastfeed, spousal relationships and companionship time.ConclusionsHigh-level father support breastfeeding self-efficacy effectively increased exclusive breastfeeding rate at six weeks postpartum. To enhance the exclusive breastfeeding rate, nurses or midwives can endeavour to design educational programmes or take supportive interventions customised for fathers, such as enhancing their breastfeeding knowledge education, reducing fatigue and mobilising positive emotions, thereby bolstering paternal self-efficacy in breastfeeding.

Survey of Breastfeeding and Colostrum knowledge and Practices Among Moroccan Women: a hospital-based study

Objective In this study, our aim was to explore the knowledge and practice of breastfeeding and colostrum among Moroccan women. Material and methods this is a cross-sectional study. Data was collected from a sample of 100 Moroccan women through a 16-question questionnaire. Results and discussion The results revealed that a significant portion (74%) of the sample, had already made the decision to breastfeed before their pregnancies. Additionally, an overwhelming majority, 98% of the participants, fed their newborns with colostrum, reflecting a widespread acceptance and understanding of its importance with only a small minority opting for alternative feeding methods. Conclusion To promote better breastfeeding practices, it is crucial to address the knowledge gaps through targeted educational interventions that emphasize the importance of colostrum and provide accurate information particularly among women and expectant mothers. Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science Vol. 23 No. 04 October’24 Page : 1159-1167

The Relationship Between Mothers' Knowledge and Attitude in Breastfeeding and The Occurrence of Nipple Irritation in Pidie Regency

Research indicates that 40% of women do not breastfeed their infants due to experiencing breast pain and swelling, and fear of nipple soreness. This may be due to incorrect breastfeeding techniques, which are often overlooked by mothers who lack the proper breastfeeding management knowledge, thus requiring relevant training and education. Proper breastfeeding requires good attachment between the mother's areola and the baby's mouth so the baby can feed effectively and nipple irritation can be avoided. If not adhered to, nipple irritation may occur, causing mothers to be reluctant to breastfeed their infants, which may impact to the child's growth rate. Breast milk is an excellent source of nutrition for infants, as it contains essential nutrients needed for optimal growth and development (Prasetyono, 2012). Data from the Aceh District/City Breastfeeding Coverage in 2022 shows that the highest coverage was in Sabang City, with only 22.43% of the population (6,006 infants). This study used a cross-sectional design where 375 infants were breastfed, and the Slovin formula was applied. Samples were randomly selected from infants at health centers in Pidie District. Researchers used the Chi-square test for data analysis. The findings from this study, derived from bivariate statistical analysis using the Chi-square test with a 95% confidence level, resulted in a p-value of 0.000 (p &lt; 0.05). This indicates that the knowledge variable significantly affects breastfeeding technique. The Chi-square test at a 95% confidence level with p=0.000 (p &lt; 0.05) also shows that attitude has an impact on the mother's ability to breastfeed. The mother's knowledge and attitude significantly influence their breastfeeding practice. The best way to prevent nipple irritation is by educating mothers on proper breastfeeding techniques. Researchers state that improving maternal knowledge and attitudes can enhance behavior, especially in breastfeeding practices, to prevent irritation. Monitoring by health workers is expected to improve maternal knowledge and attitudes and minimize the incidence of nipple irritation.

Do the fathers matter? Paternal perspective of exclusive breastfeeding practices: A community-based cross-sectional study in urban slums of Bhubaneswar, Odisha

ABSTRACT Introduction: Although various policies have been framed to improve exclusive breastfeeding outcomes in India, the father’s role in breastfeeding is grossly ignored. Gender inequalities are still predominant in several parts of India. Fathers’ involvement in breastfeeding decision-making plays a significant role in improving the outcome. However, till now, this domain has been neglected in India. Henceforth, we aimed to see the knowledge and attitudes of fathers regarding breastfeeding in a community setting. Methods: It was a community-based cross-sectional study done in the urban slums of Bhubaneswar, Odisha. One hundred seventy-one fathers with their children between six months and one year were recruited by simple random sampling. Knowledge was assessed with a semi-structured questionnaire, and attitude was measured with the Iowa Infant Feeding Attitude Scale (IIFA). Results: In the present study, 1.18% of fathers had good knowledge regarding breastfeeding. 46.2% had average knowledge regarding breastfeeding, and 57.3% had positive attitudes toward formula feeding. Discussion: We have found that most fathers had a positive attitude toward formula feeding, and very few fathers had good knowledge of breastfeeding. Henceforth, further focus in this area is required to improve breastfeeding outcomes.

Effects of Postpartum Web-Based Breastmilk and Breastfeeding Education: A Quasi-Experimental Study

Objective: The aim of the study was to examine the effect of web-based breastfeeding education applied to postpartum primiparous women on breastmilk, breastfeeding knowledge and self-efficacy. Methods: This quasi-experimental study was conducted with 73 participants (experimental group=37; control group=36) at the Zeynep Kamil Gynecology and Pediatrics Training and Research Hospital in Istanbul, Türkiye. The study was at postpartum services between June 2018 and October 2019. The participants in the experimental group attended the internet-based breastmilk and breastfeeding education program; where as those in the control group received routine care. Data were collected pre and post training using the demographic information form, Breastmilk and Breastfeeding Knowledge Test and Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale. Results: Our result showed that there was no significant difference found between the experimental and control groups on post-training on Breastmilk and Breastfeeding Knowledge Test (p&gt;.05). On the other hand, there was significant difference between the experimental and control groups on post-training on Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale (p

Trajectories of Breastfeeding-Related Thoughts and Attitudes Among Low-Income Smoke-Exposed Pregnant Women: A Latent Class Growth Analysis.

Psychosocial predictors of breastfeeding and changes in those factors during pregnancy, along with the relationship of those changes with both breastfeeding and smoke use and exposure, are not well explored. The aim of this study was to identify distinct trajectories of psychosocial determinants of breastfeeding and smoking in pregnant women. We used a longitudinal study design and data from a randomized controlled trial conducted among smoke-exposed pregnant women and their infants. Participants were recruited early in pregnancy and were surveyed at ≤ 16 and 32 weeks gestation, delivery, 3 and 6 months postpartum for breastfeeding intentions, initiation, continuation, and smoke use and exposure. Psychosocial variables associated with breastfeeding were measured at baseline and 32 weeks gestation using the Mitra index, a structured questionnaire that assesses barriers and facilitators of breastfeeding intentions. Latent class growth analysis was performed using Mitra scores to identify distinct subgroups of participants with different trajectories. Sociodemographic characteristics, breastfeeding, and tobacco smoke use and exposure were compared across classes. Three or four trajectories were identified for each of the six Mitra scores. Trajectories for all Mitra scores were associated with breastfeeding intention and initiation. Overall, Mitra, knowledge, self-efficacy, social support, and time barrier classes all differed by tobacco smoke use or exposure. Trajectories of breastfeeding knowledge, self-efficacy, social support, and time to breastfeed/social barriers are associated with tobacco smoke use and exposure during pregnancy. Encouragement to breastfeed and to cease and avoid tobacco smoke should start early in pregnancy, focusing on these determinants to improve health outcomes.

The potential effectiveness of community health and nutrition volunteers on mothers’ infant and young children feeding knowledge and practice in remote areas, Hajjah, Yemen

BackgroundThe Infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices directly affect the health, development and nutritional status of children under two years of age. However, IYCF counseling is one of the Community Health and Nutrition Volunteers (CHNVs) activities provided, which may contribute to improving the IYCF knowledge and practice among mothers. Since establishment of the CHNVs program in Yemen, its outcome has never been evaluated. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the role of CHNVs in improving the IYCF knowledge and practice among mothers in Hajjah governorate.MethodsA comparative cross-sectional study design was conducted in Bani Qais and Al-Maghrabah districts, Hajjah governorate between January and April 2023. A three-stage cluster sampling method was used to select districts, volunteer villages and households. A total of 926 mothers were interviewed. A pre-tested structured questionnaire was used to collect data. SPSS 26 was used for data analysis. The multinomial logistic regression and Chi-Square test were used to compare the IYCF knowledge and practices among mothers between the volunteer and non-volunteer villages. Odds Ratio (OR) with 95% Confidence Interval (CI) were calculated. A p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.ResultsThe mothers in volunteer villages had significantly better breastfeeding and complementary feeding (CF) knowledge than mothers in non-volunteer villages. The OR of having good and moderate knowledge of breastfeeding were 3.5 (95%CI: 2.4–5.2) and 1.6 (95% CI: 1.2–2.2), respectively. The OR for good and moderate knowledge of CF were 1.7 (95% CI: 1.1–2.7) and 2.2 (95% CI: 1.5-3.0), respectively. Moreover, there is a statistically significant association in prevalence of Exclusively breastfed for the first two days after birth (EBF2D), Mixed milk feeding under six months (MixMF) and Bottle feeding 0–23 months (BoF) between volunteer and non-volunteer villages [(OR = 1.4, 95% CI: 1.0-1.8), (OR = 0.4, 95% CI: 0.2–0.8) and (OR = 0.5, 95% CI: 0.4–0.7), respectively].ConclusionsThe study found that CHNVs play a significant effect in improving the breastfeeding and CF knowledge, and prevalence of EBF2D, MixMF and BoF practices among mothers in their villages compared to non-volunteer villages. Future follow-up study and expansion to other settings in different governorates is recommended.

Mothers’ needs and wishes for breastfeeding support in workplaces in Thailand: a qualitative study

BackgroundReturning to work is a barrier to breastfeeding. Although the Department of Labour Protection and Welfare (DLPW) in Thailand encourages employers to initiate a breastfeeding corner – a designated area where mothers can express their breastmilk privately and comfortably – in their workplace to support lactating employees, little is known about what kind of support mothers would like to continue breastfeeding after returning to work. This research aimed to explore mothers’ needs and wishes for breastfeeding support in the workplace.MethodsThis qualitative study used focus group discussions to collect data from female employees who had a child aged 6 − 24 months in factories that had initiated a breastfeeding corner between 1 October 2021 and 30 September 2022. The focus group discussions were held between June and July 2023. We employed semi-structured questions relating to breastfeeding support in their workplaces (e.g., a breastfeeding corner, lactation break, providing information or knowledge), baby food marketing in workplaces, and recommendations to improve breastfeeding support for working mothers. We applied thematic analysis to analyse the data.ResultsNineteen mothers from five factories located in Bangkok and surrounding provinces participated in the study. All participating factories had a breastfeeding corner in a first aid room, and no lactation breaks were given. Therefore, lactating employees spent time during their breaks pumping breastmilk. Furthermore, the lactating employees did not acquire any information or education about breastfeeding from the workplace during pregnancy or after delivery but rather obtained this from health system services and digital platforms. They also received support from family, health professionals, and colleagues when they returned to work after giving birth. Lactating employees would like employers to provide specific lactation breaks. They also wanted credible information or knowledge about breastfeeding to be provided during pregnancy and after giving birth, together with other social support.ConclusionsThe Department of Labour Protection and Welfare, the Department of Health, and the Thai Breastfeeding Centre Foundation could collaborate with other relevant organisations to support employers in establishing breastfeeding support in their workplace.

A Mobile Gaming App to Train Teenage Mothers on Appropriate Child Feeding Practices: Development and Validation Study.

Undernutrition is an underlying factor in nearly 50% of 1 million estimated annual deaths among Nigerian children aged <5 years. Inappropriate maternal infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices are basic contributors to child undernutrition. Teenage motherhood exacerbates the problem of inadequate child feeding. One possible intervention method to improve IYCF knowledge and practices of teenage mothers is the use of mobile gaming technologies. Despite extreme poverty in low- and middle-income countries, a ubiquity of mobile phone networks exists. This study aims to develop and validate a mobile gaming app, called BabyThrive, to train Nigerian teenage mothers on appropriate IYCF practices. To identify gaps in current IYCF practices in northern Nigeria, we conducted an extensive search of the literature and held 2 focus group interviews with 16 teenage mothers with low-income status. An initial app content design was then created, and content validity was established by 10 nutrition experts. Next, we developed an app prototype, which was assessed for quality by 7 nutrition and mobile gaming experts and evaluated for usability by 90 teenage mothers from rural areas in Abuja, the country's capital. The final app, BabyThrive, is a 2D mobile game that is fully functional offline and available in English as well as Hausa, which is commonly spoken in northern Nigeria. The efficacy of the BabyThrive app was assessed using IYCF knowledge scores obtained from the administration of the validated Teen Moms Child Feeding Questionnaire for Sub-Saharan Africa. Construct validity was established via crossover design by comparing the total IYCF knowledge scores of the teenage mothers obtained after a verbal training program and BabyThrive app use. Large proportions of the study participants were married (53/90, 59%) and had no personal income (63/90, 70%). The mean quality rating for the BabyThrive app was 4.3 (SD 0.39) out of 5.0. High levels (>80%) of usability and user satisfaction were documented. Knowledge of exclusive breastfeeding (P<.001) and total knowledge scores (P=.002) were significantly higher in the BabyThrive group than in the verbal training group. The IYCF knowledge scores obtained from both groups showed coherence, with a statistically significant Spearman correlation coefficient of 0.50 (P<.001). This research developed and validated a novel, offline mobile gaming app. It will be an easy, effective, and acceptable method to disseminate critical knowledge on IYCF practices to teenage mothers in rural Nigeria.

Achievements and Challenges in Breastfeeding During Two Years of War in Ukraine.

Background: This article informs about the state of breastfeeding in Ukraine after more than 2 years of war. The article presents important information on breastfeeding data, the widespread implementation of the baby-friendly hospital initiative, human milk banks working in difficult situations, the first overestimation of breast milk substitute needs, the International Code, and the presence of donations reaching an overburdened health system. It covers the training of health care professionals as well as counseling in wartime. Conclusion: It is a testimony of important work done on different levels of the Ukrainian population as well as among the aid agencies present and the health system to protect and support breastfeeding for infants and mothers' health in a war situation. The acquired breastfeeding knowledge through BFHI training of health care professionals and the whole package of BFHI measures is important for ensuring the health and survival of children.

Women's perspectives on the role and impact of breastfeeding support groups in Ireland

BackgroundBreastfeeding Support Groups are deemed effective in promoting breastfeeding initiation and duration, but few studies have addressed the mothers’ perspectives. Research aimTo investigate the role and impact of Breastfeeding Support Groups on breastfeeding mothers in Ireland from the women's perspective. Specific objectives included the assessment over time of breastfeeding self-efficacy knowledge, use, and limitations of BSGs and whether they contributed towards women achieving their breastfeeding goals. MethodsAn online survey using an established, validated Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy tool and custom-designed questions was administered at two time points as part of a larger sequential explanatory mixed methods’ design. Cultural Historical Activity Theory was used as the theoretical framework. ResultsMajority of respondents at Phase 1 (N = 978) were multiparous, urban dwellers, and breastfeeding more than twelve months. Mothers first attend Breastfeeding Support Groups primarily to meet other breastfeeding mothers with many attending multiple types of group formats weekly. Qualities considered extremely important in breastfeeding supporters were: personal breastfeeding experience breastfeeding knowledge empathy understanding and listening skills There was no statistical difference in breastfeeding self-efficacy over time (z = -1.296, p = .195, r = -0.06). ConclusionsParticipants attend Breastfeeding Support Groups to ‘meet other mothers’ in a convenient and local location, and not necessarily for a problem. Breastfeeding Support Groups normalise breastfeeding through social support, with breastfeeding supporters providing knowledge, empathy, understanding listening, and personal breastfeeding experience. Breastfeeding self-efficacy was high and did not increase over time, suggesting mothers need to be highly efficacious in this cohort to breastfeed.

ANALYSIS OF STUNTING INCIDENTS IN TODDLER CHILDREN

Stunting is a condition of failure to thrive in children under five years old. In 2023, there will still be 45 stunting cases and 52 underweight toddlers. This study aims to determine the factors associated with the incidence of stunting in children under five at the Seri Tanjung Community Health Center, Ogan Ilir Regency in 2024. The design of this research is quantitative with a cross-sectional approach. The population of this study were parents of children under five who were seeking treatment at the Seri Tanjung Community Health Center in 2024. The sample in this study was 95 people. The sampling method uses purposive sampling. This research was carried out on 10 -20 February 2024. Data was collected using a questionnaire. Bivariate data analysis used the Chi-Square test and multivariate logistic regression. The results of the research show that there is a relationship between age (p value 0.040), exclusive breastfeeding (p value 0.002) and LBW (p value 0.047) with the incidence of stunting in children under five at the Seri Tanjung Community Health Center in 2024. There is no relationship between gender (p value 0.075), employment (p value 0.12) and income (p value 0.823) with the incidence of stunting in children under five at the Seri Tanjung Community Health Center in 2024. The most dominant factor with the incidence of stunting in children under five at the Seri Tanjung Community Health Center in 2024 is exclusive breast milk (OR 0.210 ), if you don't provide exclusive breast milk, you have a 0.210 times risk of stunting compared to giving exclusive breast milk. The conclusion is that there is a relationship between age, exclusive breastfeeding and LBW. Community health centers need to provide counseling every two months in an effort to increase parents' knowledge of stunting and provide counseling guidance to parents regarding knowledge of exclusive breastfeeding.

Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of Breastfeeding among South Indians: A Cross-sectional Study

Introduction: Research shows that exclusively breastfed infants have a 13% lower mortality risk. However, only 37% of infants in Low and middle income country (LMIC) are exclusively breastfed. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in a Chennai hospital’s outpatient department, focusing on pediatrics. The study commenced after obtaining ethical clearance (99/IEC-SMMCHRI). Breastfeeding knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) scales were developed by modifying existing KAP tools. The KAP questionnaire was based on the World Health Organization. The same was applied to 250 consenting mothers. Results: Participants had a mean age of 27 years, with the youngest mother at 19 and the oldest at 40. Forty-one percent had finished high school, and 37% had completed undergraduate studies. Eighty-eight percent had strong breastfeeding comprehension, and 96% had a favorable attitude. However, only 32% exclusively breastfed. The study found significant correlations between knowledge and behavior (χ2 = 4.27, P = 0.04) and between attitude and behavior (χ2 = 5.69, P = 0.017). Mothers with adequate knowledge tended to follow recommended feeding practices, and those with a positive attitude displayed good practices. Conclusion: Despite positive attitudes toward breastfeeding, the cultural practice of introducing prelacteal food hinders exclusive breastfeeding, leading to negative outcomes. While there have been some improvements in exclusive breastfeeding rates, addressing this disparity could reduce child mortality rates. The outcomes of the research will be highly beneficial for primary care physicians in their efforts to promote exclusive breastfeeding among expectant mothers.