Qualitative study on WIC Program strategies to promote breastfeeding practices in Puerto Rico: what do nutritionist/dietician's think?

The purpose of this study is to better understand Nutritionist-Dietician opinions concerning WIC Program strategies to promote breastfeeding in Puerto Rico. Four groups of nutritionists-dietitians were recruited to take part in focus group discussions. Each focus group lasted for approximately 1 h and the researchers completed a debriefing sheet after each meeting. The group discussions were taped and transcribed. The participants identified hospital barriers, lack of family support and problems related to the mother as the three principal reasons that Puerto Rican mothers do not breastfeed their babies or stop breastfeeding early. An individual meeting was the most frequently mentioned WIC strategy that was meant to convince mothers to breastfeed their infants. Nevertheless, the focus group participants recognized that the effort and time available for such meetings is limited. From these groups, one theme that emerged is that the WIC Program in Puerto Rico should collaborate with hospitals to arrange for WIC-sponsored nutritionist-dietitians to visit the WIC participants during their maternity hospital stay, and in their homes.

Exploratory study: knowledge about the benefits of breastfeeding and barriers for initiation in mothers of children with spina bifida.

The aim of the study is to identify the level of knowledge on breastfeeding by mothers of infants with spina bifida and the barriers encountered in initiating breastfeeding. A non-probabilisitic sample (n=30) of mothers was used in this study. The sample was obtained in two institutions specializing in care for infants with congenital anomalies in Puerto Rico. A self-administered questionnaire was used consisting of six sections. Descriptive statistics were used for data analysis. Among participants, 56.7% had adequate knowledge on the benefits of breastfeeding. The most frequently encountered barriers in initiating breastfeeding were related to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Problems with the medical and nursing procedures, routines, support from personnel, and adequacy of the environment were the most frequent. It is important to develop a education to encourage nurses and other health care professionals need suggest, support and encourage breastfeeding to mothers of infants with neural tube defects.

Exploratory study: breastfeeding knowledge, attitudes towards sexuality and breastfeeding, and disposition towards supporting breastfeeding in future Puerto Rican male parents.

Identify the breastfeeding knowledge, the attitudes towards sexuality and breastfeeding and the disposition towards supporting breastfeeding in future fathers were the aims of this study. A non-probabilistic sample (n = 100) of future Puerto Rican male parents was used in this study. A self-administered questionnaire was used consisting of four sections. Descriptive statistics were used for data analysis and t-test to the inferential analysis. 88.8% of the participants presented a low level of knowledge. However, 81.6% had a positive attitude toward sexuality and breastfeeding. Also, 92.0% of the participants indicated much/enough willingness to support their partners in exclusively breastfeeding. Disposition to support the breastfeeding was associated with knowledge towards breastfeeding (p = 0.04) and attitudes toward sexuality and breastfeeding (p = 0.00). The knowledge and the attitudes, in this study, are strongly related with the disposition of the father to supporting the breastfeeding in the future.

Translation and validation of the breastfeeding self-efficacy scale into Spanish: data from a Puerto Rican population.

Many new mothers discontinue breastfeeding prematurely due to difficulties encountered rather than maternal choice. Research has shown that a significant predictor of breastfeeding duration is maternal confidence. Using self-efficacy theory as a conceptual framework to measure breastfeeding confidence, the Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale (BSES) was developed and psychometrically tested among English-speaking mothers. The purpose of this methodological study was to translate the BSES into Spanish and determine the psychometric characteristics of the BSES in a sample of 100 Puerto Rican women. The psychometric assessment of the original study was replicated including internal consistency, principal components factor analysis, and comparison between contrasted groups. This study is the first to examine the psychometric characteristics of the Spanish-version BSES administered in-hospital and provide further evidence of the reliability and validity of the instrument.

Puerto Rican primary physicians' knowledge about folic acid supplementation for the prevention of neural tube defects.

BACKGROUND: We conducted a study of a group of primary physicians in Puerto Rico to evaluate their knowledge about folic acid supplementation to prevent neural tube defects. METHOD: The study design was transverse-correlational. A total of 66 primary physicians in two hospitals (public and private) participated in the study. The sample was nonrandom and opportunistic, and only those physicians present in the hospitals at the moment of distribution of the questionnaires participated. A self-administered and anonymous questionnaire was used. Descriptive statistics and cross-tabular analysis were used to describe the results of this study. Inferential statistics were also used, including Chi square and t-tests to establish the associations/differences between physician knowledge and the independent variables. RESULTS: Of the participants, 87.9% demonstrated an inadequate knowledge about folic acid supplementation for the prevention of neural tube defects as part of preconception care and only 12.1% demonstrated adequate knowledge. Older physicians had greater knowledge about folic acid. Also, women demonstrated greater knowledge about folic acid than did men. Most of the physicians who always recommend supplementation to their patients demonstrated a greater knowledge about folic acid, and all participants with adequate knowledge came from the public hospital. CONCLUSIONS: Despite a concerted effort by the Health Department of Puerto Rico to provide education in the importance of folic acid supplementation to reduce the incidence of neural tube defects, primary physicians in two Puerto Rican hospitals generally have not availed themselves of this training and showed a lack of knowledge on this important clinical issue.

Knowledge about breastfeeding in mothers of infants with gastroesophageal reflux.

Infants with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) who are breastfed have significantly shorter clinical episodes of the condition than artificially fed infants. The purpose of this study was to identify the knowledge about the benefits of breastfeeding in mothers of babies 0-12 months of age with gastroesophageal reflux. A non-probabilistic sample was taken among patients from various private radiological centers. Sixty mothers completed a self-administered questionnaire, with a median age of 26 years and an educational level of 14 years. Seventy one percent breastfed their last baby, but only 18.6% practiced exclusive breastfeeding. The pediatrician suggested formula to 53.3% of the mothers, and 64% of the mothers were told to combine breast milk with vegetables as treatment for the GERD. Inadequate knowledge about the benefits of breastfeeding was exhibited by 27% of the mothers. Mothers of infants with GERD need education on the importance of breastfeeding. Further research is necessary on the factors which impact the duration of breastfeeding in this population.

[Factors associated with the use of tobacco among students of the Medical Sciences School, University of Puerto Rico]. / Factores asociados al uso del cigarrillo en estudiantes del Recinto de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad de Puerto Rico.

The objective of this study is to evaluate associated factors related to cigarette smoking in students of the Medical Sciences Campus, University of Puerto Rico. One hundred eighty-nine students, registered in the summer session, participated in the study. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect the information. For the data analysis descriptive statistics were used, as well as Pearson Chi Square and Mann-Whitney test. The results showed that 12.2% of the participants are smokers at the moment of the study. Most of the smokers stated that the main reason they smoke was for stress reduction and psychological addiction. A statistical association was encountered between the cigarette use and exposure of information (X2Fisher (1) = 4.65, p = 0.02). We conclude that the participants smoke as an adaptative response to the daily stressors that impact the academic setting.

Creencias Hacia la lactancia materna y la actud hacia apoyar la lactancia en público de un grupo de estudiantes de salud de una escuela superior de la Región Educativa de Caguas / Knowledge about breast feeding and attitude to breast feeding in public of a group of high school students in the Caguas Educational Region

The objective of this study was to identify the knowledge and attitudes towards breastfeeding and towards breastfeeding in public of a group of high school students in the Caguas Educational Region. The study design was a descriptive survey. The sample consisted of 101 students gistered in the Health Course. A self administered questionnaire was used to ther the information. Descriptive and inferential statistics (chi quare and t test) were used for data analysis. We found that the majority of the participants have the intention of breastfeeding or supporting breastfeeding for their children. We found, nevertheless, that there were misconceptions regarding breastfeeding hich could develop into barriers for effective breastfeeding. It was also observed that support for breastfeeding varied depending on the location where it took place. Support was greater if it was done in non-public places. In inclusion, it became evident that there is a need for educational programs with correct information on breastfeeding and the importance of breastfeeding in public