Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Men’s Health and Reproductive Health Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran, Midwifery and Reproductive Health Research Center,schoole of Nursing and Midwifery, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

2 Men’s Health and Reproductive Health Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Breastfeeding is not only a perfect food for the infant but also is a living fluid with
many features. It provides the infant’s physical growth and is responsive to its emotional needs.
Since determining the knowledge and attitude of girls in this period and promoting, it is considered
as the main principle in motivating them for choosing this method in future.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: This descriptive‑correlational study was conducted to determine
the knowledge and attitude of 630 high‑school students on breastfeeding at a selected public high
school in Tehran, Iran in 2018. A researcher‑made questionnaire was administered to collect the
data, to determine the validity of the tool; content validity was used and to determine its reliability,
a test re‑test method was applied. Data were analyzed by the nonparametric tests of Chi‑square,
multiple comparisons, and Spearman correlation coefficient.
RESULTS: The results showed that 80.3% had moderate knowledge. The mean score of knowledge
in the human sciences group was significantly higher than others. Furthermore, the attitude of
22.5% of girls was positive, 77.5% had no idea, none of them had negative attitudes. There was a
statistically significant difference between the mean score of attitude of the students in groups of
knowledge (good, moderate, and weak) (P < 0.01), and multiple comparison tests showed that the
positive attitude score in the moderate knowledge group was more than the attitude score in weak
and good knowledge.
CONCLUSION: The results indicate that there is an unbiased attitude about the moderate knowledge
of different aspects of breastfeeding among pre university students, although they have a moderate
knowledge on a complete and successful breast feeding.

Keywords

  1. Victora CG, Bahl R, Barros AJ, França GV, Horton S, Krasevec J,
    et al. Breastfeeding in the 21st century: Epidemiology, mechanisms,
    and lifelong effect. Lancet 2016;387:475‑90.
    2. United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Programming Guide,
    Infant and Young Child Feeding, Nutrition Section, Programmes.
    Available from: http://www.unicef.org. [Last accessed on 2012
    Jun 20].
    3. Mbada CE, Olowookere AE, FaronbiJO, Oyinlola‑Aromolaran FC,
    Faremi FA, Ogundele AO, et al. Knowledge, attitude and
    techniques of breastfeeding among Nigerian mothers from a
    semi‑urban community. BMC Res Notes 2013;6:552.
    4. World Health Organization/Home/Newsroom/Fact sheet/
    Deatail/, Key Facts. Infant and yaoung child feeding. Available
    from: https://www.who.int/news‑room/fact‑sheets/detail/
    infant‑and‑young‑child‑feeding. [Last accessed on 2020 Apr 01].
  2. 5. World Health Organization. UNFPA. The World Bank. Trends in
    Maternal Mortality: 1990 to2015, Estimates by WHO, UNICEF,
    UNFPA, World Bank Group and the United Nations Population
    Division. Available at://www.who.int/reproductivehealth/
    publications/monitoring/maternal mortality November 2015/
    en/ p. 12.WHO reference number: WHO /RHR/15.23.
    6. Padmanabhan R, Thulasingam M, Chinnakalai P. Female college
    students knowledge, attitude and future intention towards
    breastfeeding: Implications for advocacy. J Clin Diagn Res
    2016;10:LC11‑4.
    7. Jannesari S, Dolatian M. Knowledge and attitude regarding
    breastfeeding. Adv Nurs Midwifery 2007;17:(58).
    8. Scaglioni S, De Cosmi V, Ciappolino V, Parazzini F, Brambilla P,
    Agostoni C. Factors Influencing Children’s Eating Behaviours.
    Nutrients 2018;10. Pii: E706.
    9. Unicef/for every child. UNICEF Data: Monitoring the situation
    of children and women. Infant and young child feeding,
    Adopting optimal feeding practice is fundamental to a child,
    s survival, growth and development , but too few children
    benefit. Available from: https://data.unicef.org/topic/nutritio
    n/infant‑and‑young‑child‑feeding/. [Last accessed on
    2019 Oct 12].
    10. World Health Organization. Home/Newsroom/Detail/
    Babies and mothers worldwide failed by lack of investment
    in breastfeeding. 1 August 2017/News release/GEEVA/
    NEWYORK. Available from: https://www.who.int/news room/
    detail/01 08 2017 babies and mothers-worldwide failed by lack‑of
    investment‑in‑breastfeeding.
    11. Kelishadi R, Rashidian A, Jari M, Khosravi A, Khabiri R, Elahi E,
    et al. national survey on the pattern of breastfeeding in Iranian
    infants: The IrMIDHS study. Med J Islam Repub Iran 2016;30:425.
    12. Radzyminski, SH, Callister LC. Mother’s Beliefs, Attitudes, and
    Decision Making Related to Infant Feeding Choices. J Perinatal
    Educ 2016;25:18‑28.
    13. Nesbitt SA, Campbell KA, Jack SM, Robinson H, Piehl K,
    Bogdan JC. Canadian adolescent mothers’ perceptions of
    influences on breastfeeding decisions: A qualitative descriptive
    study. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2012;12:149.
    14. Dallak A, Al‑Rabeei N, Aljahmi Y. Breastfeeding knowledge,
    attitude, and practices among mothers attending health centers
    in Sana’a City. ARC J Public Health Community Med 2016;1:9‑17.
    15. Dieterich CM, Felice JP, O’Sullivan E, Rasmussen KM.
    Breastfeeding and health outcomes for the mother‑infant dyad.
    Pediatr Clin North Am 2013;60:31‑48.
    16. Vijayalakshmi P, Susheela T, Mythili D. Knowledge, attitudes, and
    breast feeding practices of postnatal mothers: A cross sectional
    survey. Int J Health Sci (Qassim) 2015;9:364‑74.
    17. Ebrahim B, Al‑Enezi H, Al‑Turki M, Al‑Turki A, Al‑Rabah F,
    Hammoud MS, et al. Knowledge, misconceptions, and future
    intentions towards breastfeeding among female university
    students in Kuwait. J Hum Lact 2011;27:358‑66.
    18. Singletary N, Chetwynd E, Goodell LS, Fogleman A. Stakeholder
    views of breastfeeding education in schools: A systematic mixed
    studies review of the literature. Int Breastfeed J 2016;12:14.
    19. Agunbiade OM, Ogunleye OV. Constraints to exclusive
    breastfeeding practice among breastfeeding mothers in Southwest
    Nigeria: Implications for scaling up. Int Breastfeeding J 2012;7:5.
    20. Yimyam S. Breastfeeding Beliefs and Practices Among
    Employed Women: A Thai Cultural Perspective. In Pranee
    Liampongtong (Editor). Infant Feeding Beliefs and Practices:
    A Cross‑Cultural Perspective. New York: Springer. 2011.
    p. 125‑40.
    21. Bonyata K. Let‑down Reflex: Too Slow? Available from: https://
    kellymom.com/bf/got‑milk/supply‑worries/letdown/. [Last
    accessed on 2020 Apr 08].
    22. Laanterä S, Pölkki T, Ekström A, Pietilä AM. Breastfeeding
    attitudes of Finnish parents during pregnancy. BMC Pregnancy
    Childbirth 2010;10:79.