Summary:
INTRODUCTION: Breastfeeding is acknowledged internationally as the best method
of infant feeding, presenting significant advantages to both the mother and the
fetus and to society. However, a significant proportion of mothers choose not
to breastfeed their children. Workers in health institutions play a central
part in the promotion of breastfeeding, as new mothers want and expect from the
nursing staff to provide them with advice and support on breastfeeding and to
facilitate the process of decision making. Nevertheless the level of
information of greek mothers-nurses on breastfeeding remains vague.
OBJECTIVE: The present study aims to investigate the views and opinions of
nurses-mothers, working at Greek National Health System, regarding
breastfeeding and their correlation with demographic and socioeconomic data and
the beliefs and attitudes of health professionals.
MATERIAL AND METHODS: The sample of the study consisted of 281 mothers from the
nursing staff working in four hospitals of the Health Region of Attica, during
the period from May 20, 2012, to November 25, 2012. The data were collected by
completing the questionnaire designed for the purpose of this study. The
questionnaire contained questions on attitudes, knowledge and views on
exclusive breastfeeding. Also included various sociodemographic and clinical
characteristics regarding the interviewees and their children. For the
comparison of quantitative variables between two groups the non-parametric test
Mann-Whitney was used. To compare quantitative variables between several groups
the non-parametric test Kruskal-Wallis was used. To compare proportions we used
the Pearson's x2 test or Fisher's exact test, where appropriate. For the rest
of the analysis the statistical program SPSS 18.0 was used.
RESULTS: 80.1% of the nurses who participated in the present study breastfed
all their children. The breastfeeding duration was ranging from 4.5 to 6 months
for each child. 94.6% of those participating believed that breastfeeding is
essential for their child and 78.3% considered themselves well/very well
informed regarding the breastfeeding benefits. Nurses who graduate TEI /
university or postgraduate degree courses had significantly higher score, ie
more knowledge about the benefits, the contraindications and the obstacles of
breastfeeding compared with those who were secondary education graduates (p =
0,007, p <0,001 and p = 0,003 respectively). Also better knowledge regarding
the benefits and contraindications of breastfeeding was observed in mothers who
considered breastfeeding necessary for their child, p = 0,014 and p = 0,028
respectively. Likewise increased knowledge about breastfeeding benefits was
found in mothers who did not suffer from any disease p = 0,008, had children
without health issues, p = 0,003 and were informed of the advantages of
breastfeeding, p <0,001.
CONCLUSION: The present study reveals the existence of important knowledge gaps
in a significant proportion of mothers-nurses, and that the highest level of
education and the understanding of the necessity of breastfeeding are
associated with increased level of knowledge.
Keywords:
Breastfeeding, Views, Nurses, Infant feeding
