Breastfeeding knowledge and relation to prevalence

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1590/s1980-220x2018004503433

Keywords:

Breast Feeding, Knowledge, Pregnancy, Maternal-Child Nursing, Health Education

Abstract

Objective: Determine the level of knowledge about maternal breastfeeding and analyze to what extent this influences the intention to breastfeed after the introduction of infant feeding at the 6th and 16th weeks and at 6 months postpartum. Method: Prospective descriptive study conducted with pregnant women in Galicia (Spain). By means of a self-filling questionnaire, data were collected on the intention of the woman to feed the newborn and their knowledge about breastfeeding. Pregnant women were also contacted at the 6th and 16th weeks and at 6 months postpartum to know the type of feeding they gave their child. Results: 297 pregnant women participated in the study, of which 90.4% wanted to exclusively breastfeed their baby, however, only 28.2% continued up to 6 months. The level of knowledge about breastfeeding was regular and it was observed that it influences both the intention and the type of feeding of the newborn, thus it is an element to be considered when developing educational strategies aimed at increasing breastfeeding rates. Conclusion: The level of pregnant women’s knowledge about breastfeeding is regular and influences the choice of how to feed their babies and the duration of exclusive breastfeeding. Strategies should be implemented to increase knowledge and improve breastfeeding rates.

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Published

2019-03-13

Issue

Section

Original Articles

How to Cite

Breastfeeding knowledge and relation to prevalence. (2019). Revista Da Escola De Enfermagem Da USP, 53, e03433. https://doi.org/10.1590/s1980-220x2018004503433