Knowledge on breast feeding and its techniques among health care workers in a tertiary health centre
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18203/2349-3291.ijcp20200024Keywords:
Breastfeeding, Colostrums, Lactating mothers, Medical interns, Prelacteal feedsAbstract
Background: Breast milk is optimum for a neonate as it is a natural food and the best gift a mother can give to her baby. Breast feeding is an art and skill which need to be learnt and mastered by mothers. As health care workers are the first line of contact for lactating mothers, this study was planned to assess their knowledge on breast feeding.
Methods: Hospital based cross-sectional study was performed among health care workers at Yenepoya Medical College and Hospital of Mangalore. 100 health care workers consisting of 60 medical interns and 40 staff nurses were enrolled in the study. Health care workers were given a questionnaire that sought responses pertaining to the knowledge on breastfeeding and its techniques. The data were analyzed using Microsoft Access and Excel software.
Results: The present study showed 92% of medical interns and 95% of nursing staff had correct knowledge about initiation of breastfeeding. Knowledge on contents of colostrums and its advantage was more among medical interns (85%) as compared to nursing staffs (30%). Knowledge on prelacteal feeds was good among medical interns as compared to nurses. Both medical interns and nursing have poor knowledge on breastfeeding during maternal illness. Knowledge on correct feeding position and good breast attachment was good among nursing staffs.
Conclusions: Study showed there is some substantial knowledge gap on breastfeeding among health care workers. Enhancing their knowledge on breastfeeding and the problems associated with it will be useful for the nurturing mothers as well as themselves.
References
Eidelman AI. Breastfeeding and the use of human milk: an analysis of the American Academy of Pediatrics 2012 Breastfeeding Policy Statement. Breastfeeding Med. 2012 Oct 1;7(5):323-4.
World Health Organization. 10 facts on breastfeeding, 2011. Available at: http://www.who.int/features/factfiles/breastfeeding/en/. Accessed 27 December 2019.
Shrivastava PS, Ramasamy J. Baby-friendly initiative: a blueprint to enable breastfeeding in hospital settings. Int J Contemp Pediatr. 2014;1:61-2.
Tiwari VK, Ali H. Post neonatal mortality in a tertiary care center at Garhwal Uttarakhand, India: a retrospective study of 10 years. Inter J Contemp Pediatr. 2018 Nov;5(6):2161.
McGuire S. World Health Organization. Comprehensive implementation plan on maternal, infant, and young child nutrition. Geneva, Switzerland, 2014. Advan Nutrit. 2015 Jan 7;6(1):134-5.
Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) (per 1000 live births). NITI Aayog, (National Institution for Transforming India), Government of India. 2018. Available at: http://niti.gov.in/content/infant-mortality-rate-imr1000-live-births# Accessed 28 March 2018.
The L. Breastfeeding: a missed opportunity for global health. Lancet. 2017 Aug 5;390(10094):532.
Thapa S, Short RV, Potts M. Breast feeding, birth spacing and their effects on child survival. Nature. 1988 Oct;335(6192):679.
Perez A, Labbok MH, Queenan JT. Clinical study of the lactational amenorrhoea method for family planning. Lancet. 1992 Apr 18;339(8799):968-70.
WHO Guidelines. Baby-friendly hospital initiative: revised, updated and expanded for integrated care. In: WHO, eds. WHO Guidelines. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2009: 1-260.
Satyavani A, Manikyamba D, Katreddi M. Knowledge of Medical and Nursing Students about Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) Practices- A Hospital Based Study at Government General Hospital, Kakinada. Sch J App Med Sci. 2017;5:101-5.
Khan A, Dohare PK, Melwani V, Toppo M, Lodha RS, Arshad S. A study to assess the knowledge and practice of nursing staff posted in postnatal ward about immediate care of newborn and breast feeding in selected hospital of Bhopal district, Madhya Pradesh. Inter J Commun Med Pub Health. 2018 Nov 24;5(12):5438-42.
Utoo BT, Ochejele S, Obulu MA, Utoo PM. Breastfeeding knowledge and attitudes amongst healthworkers in a health care facility in South-South Nigeria: The need for middle level health manpower development. Clin Mother Child Health. 2012;9(1).
Shehu M, Shehu H. Knowledge, Attitude and Intending Practice on Breastfeeding Among Clinical Medical Students in Bingham University Teaching Hospital, Jos. Eur J Prevent Med. 2019;7(2):50-6.
Bhasin SK, Kumar R, Singh S, Dubey KK, Kapil U. Knowledge and attitudes of Anganwadi workers about infant feeding in Delhi. Ind Pediat. 1995 Mar 1;32(3):346-50.
Seema N, Saboohi E, Kazi U, Hadi A, Khan H, Channa Y, et al. Perception of medical students regarding breast feeding at Al Tibri Medical College and Hospital: a comparative study. Int J Res Med Sci. 2019;7:4171-6.
Anjum Q, Ashfaq T, Siddiqui H. Knowledge regarding breastfeeding practices among medical students of Ziauddin University Karachi. JPMA. 2007 Oct;57(480).
Abdel-Hady D, Eladawi N, El-Gilany AH. Knowledge of female medical students about breastfeeding. Universal J Pub Health. 2013 Oct;1(3):72-8.
Hatamleh W, Sabeeb AZ. Knowledge and attitude toward breastfeeding among nursing students. J Nat Sci Res. 2015;5(16):2225-921.
