Effect of Seven-contact Breastfeeding on the Knowledge, Motivation, and Ability of Breastfeeding during the First Eightweeks Postpartum

@#Introduction: A minimum of seven-contacts with health personnel is required to successfully breastfeed for six months exclusively. Furthermore, non-exclusively breastfed babies have a six-fold risk of dying in the first year, increased susceptibility to disease, and cognitive loss. This study aims to determine the effect of the seven-contact program on the knowledge, motivation, and mothers’ ability to breastfeed at 8 weeks postpartum. Methods: A quasi-experimental study was conducted from July to December 2020. About 37 samples of mothers with a gestational age of 28 weeks at the Maternity Clinic in Medan were selected using the purposive sampling technique. The data were obtained from the questionnaires and observation sheets and analyzed using the paired t-test. Results: The results showed that knowledge, motivation, and mothers’ ability to breastfeed were significantly different before and after the seven-contact breastfeeding intervention with a p-value of 0.001<0.005. Conclusion: Seven-contact breastfeeding intervention increases pregnant women’s knowledge, motivation, and ability to breastfeed during the first eight weeks after delivery. Therefore, it is necessary to encourage pregnant women to apply the Seven-contact Breastfeeding to improve and support their journey.

Relationship between breastfeeding knowledge， self-efficacy and exclusive breastfeeding behavior among postpartum mothers / 上海预防医学

Objective:To explore the relationship between breastfeeding knowledge， self-efficacy and exclusive breastfeeding behavior among mothers of one-month old babies. Methods:Random sampling method was conducted for choosing 5 out of 13 community service health centers in Jiading district of Shanghai. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among the mothers. Results:A total of 456 valid questionnaires were received， the full score of breastfeeding knowledge was set at 60， with an average of 47.17±5.65， ranging from 12 to 60. The full score of self-efficacy was set at 70， with an average of 47.70±14.48， ranging from 14 to 70. The exclusive breastfeeding rate of one-month old infants was 55.3%（252/456）. Multivariate logistic analysis showed that mothers with higher scores of breastfeeding knowledge had significantly higher rate of exclusive breastfeeding （OR=1.717， 95%CI 1.034-2.851， P=0.037）. Those with higher scores of breastfeeding self-efficacy also had significantly higher rate of exclusive breastfeeding （OR=5.736， 95%CI 3.455-9.522， P=0.001）. Conclusions:The breastfeeding knowledge and self-efficacy of mothers of one-month old babies were significantly associated with the rate of exclusive breastfeeding. Medical staff should strengthen the delivery and cultivation of breastfeeding knowledge and skills for mothers to improve breastfeeding self-efficacy， and ultimately promote the rate of exclusive breastfeeding.

Determinants of fathers’ involvement in breastfeeding practices in Kuala Selangor

@#Introduction: Fathers’ knowledge, attitude, and involvement in breastfeeding practices are crucial factors to determine the success of breastfeeding outcomes such as decision-making on breastfeeding, successfulness of exclusive breastfeeding, and continuation of breastfeeding practices. This study aimed to identify the determinants of fathers’ involvement in breastfeeding practices. Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 203 fathers attending Maternal and Child Health Clinics in Kuala Selangor. Self-administered questionnaires were used to obtain information regarding fathers’ sociodemography, breastfeeding knowledge, attitudes, and involvement towards breastfeeding practices. Results: Mean age of the fathers was 32.1±5.9 years, ranging between 21 to 50 years. Findings showed that majority of the fathers were involved in breastfeeding practices (52.7%; n=107, 57.0±6.2), had fair knowledge in breastfeeding (62.6%; n=127, 13.8±3.2), and showed low attitude towards breastfeeding (68.0%; n=138, 61.9±6.7). Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed factors with significant influence on fathers’ involvement towards breastfeeding practices were: (1) fathers’ breastfeeding knowledge, (2) fathers’ attitudes towards breastfeeding practices, and (3) mode of infant delivery. Conclusion: These significant predictors may help healthcare professionals to establish effective strategies by advocating the role of fathers in the breastfeeding process such as by offering continuous support, active involvement, and effective participation.

Attitude and awareness on importance of breastfeeding among childbearing women in a rapidly developing country

Background: Health authorities in United Arab Emirates passed a law giving all the mothers the right to breastfeed their children even during the working hours. The objective of this study is designed to explore the degree of awareness among mothers in childbearing period on breastfeeding importance and practices.Methods: A cross sectional explorative questionnaire-based survey included 400 mothers from multi health centres in 3 emirates of United Arab Emirates as follows: Abu Dhabi 100 samples, Dubai 100 samples and Sharjah 200 samples, who were in their childbearing period and had a minimum of one child during the study period between July 2016 and November 2016.Results: Total 54.5% of mothers were above 30 years of age. 48% were local and 52% were non-local. 80% were familiar with the advantages of breastfeeding. 84.8% believed that exclusive breastfeeding up to 6 months is important and 41% had breastfed their children exclusively. 76% had the skin-to-skin contact with their baby and 43.5% had started breastfeeding within the first hour after birth, of them, 10% had delivered by caesarean section.  82% were roaming in with their baby during hospital stay and 81% had practiced demand breastfeeding. 89.9% of mothers had received the support they needed for breastfeeding from hospital staff. 56% had not used pacifier during the hospital stay and 56% had used bottle-feeding. 55% of mothers were employed, 72% of them had the intention to continue exclusive breastfeeding for a minimum of 6-month period.Conclusions: Attitude and awareness on breastfeeding are encouraging. Educational efforts, workshops and public awareness should be enhanced and maximized.

Reliability and validity of a Malay-version questionnaire assessing knowledge of breastfeeding

Background: There is a need to identify the knowledge that mothers have about breastfeeding to help promote it. Therefore, it is important to develop a valid and reliable questionnaire to provide useful and comparable data about breastfeeding knowledge. The objectives of this study were to determine the reliability and validity of a Malay version of a questionnaire assessing breastfeeding knowledge and describe the breastfeeding knowledge level among respondents. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from 1 January to 31 May 2008 among female staff working at the Universiti Sains Malaysia Health Campus. A self-administered questionnaire containing 53 items assessing breastfeeding knowledge was given to respondents. The questions were adapted and modified from a breastfeeding questionnaire developed by a team of Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia paediatric nurses. Exploratory factor analysis, internal consistency reliability, and descriptive analysis of respondents’ knowledge were conducted. Results: A total of 252 female staff participated in the study. Factor analysis constructed 10 domains of knowledge and excluded 6 items, leaving 47 items in the final questionnaire. Cronbach’s alpha of the final questionnaire was 0.77. Respondents’ lowest knowledge was on the practical aspects of breastfeeding. Conclusion: The questionnaire is reliable and valid to assess the breastfeeding knowledge of Malaysian women.

Knowledge, Attitudes and Sources of Information on Breastfeeding among Pregnant Mothers

This is a cross-sectional study on 218 pregnant mothers in an urban government Hospital. The study aimed to assess knowledge, attitudes and sources of information on breastfeeding. The results could be utilised to promote breastfeeding. Almost all the respondents (96.8%) intended to breastfeed their newborns. Most of them (74.8%) were knowledgeable about breastfeeding i.e. colostrum and breast milk was the best food, good for resistance against disease and allergy, filling up stomach easily, helpful in teeth development and maternal recovery after birth, increased bonding, was easy and economical. The two main misconceptions were mothers would stop breastfeeding when infant or mother was sick, and giving clear fluid to the exclusively breastfed infants to prevent dehydration. Most mothers (83.9%) responded positively towards breastfeeding i.e. it was easier than infant formula, had no negative effect on marital relationship or family care, would commence breastfeeding straight after delivery, agreeable to the banning of bottles and teats in hospital and they would not stop breastfeeding even if husband discouraged them. Only 56.9% of the mothers believed they could breastfeed their babies with modesty anywhere. The main sources of information were attained from the mass media (34.9%), antenatal class (32.1%) and other mothers with breastfeeding experiences.

A Study on the Future Plans for Infant Feeding Practice and Its Associated Factors among University Students / 대한지역사회영양학회지

This study was carried out to investigate the future plan for infant feeding practice and its associated factors among university students so as to develop focus for nutritional education program for the promotion of breastfeeding. The subjects were 301 students (males 130, females 171). The results obtained were as follows. In this survey, the subjects had a basic knowledge of breastfeeding and lactation, especially of the ingredient of breastmilk. However they were not well informed about the physiology and method of breastfeeding and benefits of breastfeeding for mothers. The average scores for attitude toward breastfeeding and lactation were 3.09 points on a 4 point scale, which indicated a slightly positive attitudes toward breastfeeding. However the participants had a negative attitude toward its emotional and practical aspects. Their future plan for infant feeding was breastfeeding 40.3%, formula feeding 3.0% and mixed feeding 56.7%. A concern was that the students showed a high rate with regard to a mixed feeding plan, and they decided this based on an incorrect knowledge of breastfeeding. The group who planned to breastfeed in the future (BF) showed higher scores with respect to knowledge and attitudes than those who planned to formula feed or mixed feed (FF + MF). Therefore, to encourage mothers to breastfeed and support breastfeeding, breastfeeding nutritional education is urgently needed among university students. In addition, nutrition education programs should promote the benefits of breastfeeding for mothers and the physiology and practical method of breastfeeding. Also a practical and culturally sensitive course about food and nutrition is recommended to inform participants about breastfeeding.

A Study about Breastfeeding Knowledge, Attitude and Problem of Breastfeeding in Early Postpartum Period and Breastfeeding Practice / 여성건강간호학회지

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was examine levels of breastfeeding knowledge, attitude and number of breastfeeding problems in early postpartum period and rate of breastfeeding practice at 3 months. METHOD: The total numbers of the study subjects were 139 mothers at postpartum unit and followed by postpartum 1 week and 3 months. RESULT: 1. The mean score of knowledge and attitude and problems toward breast feeding scale were 22.83(SD=5.19), 20.99(SD=3.40), and 9.04(SD=3.59) respectively, indicating low to moderate level according to subjects characteristics, breastfeeding knowledge scores were significantly different by age (F=8.00, p<.001), breastfeeding experience (t=3.26, p<.001) and parity(t=2.39, p<.05), but no difference were found in rate of breastfeeding attitude and number of problems. 2.Rate of breastfeeding practice was 46.5% at three months of postpartum and the breastfeeding practice was significantly different by breastfeeding plan period(X(2)= 13.33, p<.001) and monthly income (X(2)= 3.80, p<.05). 3. Further, breastfeeding practice at 3 months was continuously influenced by number of problems of the breast-feeding(OR=.85) and breastfeeding plan period(OR=2.11) at early postpartum period. CONCLUSION: The findings suggest the necessity of maternal support during postpartum period to provide correct information about rate of breastfeeding knowledge and attitude to teach problem solving skills for any breastfeeding problems in order to increase rate of breastfeeding practice.

A Survey on the Feeding Practices of Women for the Development of a Breastfeeding Education Program: Breastfeeding Knowledge and Breastfeeding Rates / 대한지역사회영양학회지

A survey was carried out to investigate the breastfeeding knowledge, breastfeeding rates and related factors among women in Seoul and the Chungbuk area, in order to obtain baseline data for the development of an education program on breastfeeding. Subjects included 671 lactating mothers who visited public health or pediatric centers, between December, 1999 and February, 2000 and were interviewed using a questionnaire. The results are as follows: In the breastfeeding knowledge, most of the subjects (93.4%) knew correctly that 'breastfeeding is better for a baby's emotional development than formula feeding,' whereas only half of the subjects (51.7%) answered correctly the question on whether 'formula is more nutritious than breastmilk.' The breastfeeding rates were about 57%, 40%, 33% and 12%, respectively for baby's aged 1, 3, 6, and 12 months. These results showed that the breastfeeding rate rapidly decreased with the baby's age. Lower breastfeeding rates were associated with high educational level (college graduate and above), high income, mothers' employment, no experience of attending breastfeeding education programs, and no planning on breastfeeding prior to pregnancy. There was a significant relationship between the level of knowledge and breastfeeding practice; the higher the knowledge score, the higher the breastfeeding rate. In conclusion, an education program should be developed and offered for each low breastfeeding rate group, in order to promote breastfeeding.