What do midwives and nurses in Turkey know about nutrition in the first six months of life

Knowledge of health professionals about breastfeeding and factors that lead the weaning: a scoping review

Abstract This review evaluated the knowledge of health professionals (HP) about breastfeeding and factors that leading the weaning. A search was performed in four electronics databases and the grey literature. The search strategy included Mesh terms and synonyms. No language or date restrictions were adopted. Studies that evaluated the knowledge of HP about breastfeeding and weaning were considered eligible. The studies retrieved by the searches were evaluated by two independently examiners. From 1,417 studies retrieved, 35 were included. Many countries and professionals from different health areas were analyzed. No studies evaluated the dentists’ knowledge. Although the included HP know the benefits of breastfeeding for health, the length of breastfeeding recommended by the World Health Organization, exclusive or not, was not aligned with all professionals’ endorsement. Information about weaning is scarce; however, HP are mindful of the main potential causes of early weaning. The knowledge of HP is conflicting about breastfeeding and unusual about weaning. Furthermore, no studies were found that presented data on the knowledge of dentists on the subject. Thus, assessments of dentists’ knowledge and education measures for HP are necessary since they are frequently questioned about these issues.

Knowledge of breastfeeding among pregnant mothers and fathers

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to describe breastfeeding knowledge of childbearing parents as well as to discover the demographic variables related to it, and evaluate the use of a web-based survey.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

The electronic Breastfeeding Knowledge, Attitude and Confidence scale was developed, and the data were collected at eight maternity healthcare clinics in Finland. All the families who visited those clinics between March 2 and April 3, 2009 were invited to the study, and 123 pregnant mothers and 49 fathers completed the survey.

FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS

The respondents correctly answered 68% of the items related to breastfeeding knowledge. The most usual lack of knowledge concerned how to increase lactation, sufficiency of breast milk in hot weather, sufficiency of breast milk for 4 months after birth, and the need to pump the breasts after alcohol consumption. Differences in the breastfeeding scores existed when gender, parity, age, living with spouse, educational level, smoking, time of pregnancy and breastfeeding history were considered. The web-based survey was well suited to the data collection, but the weak response rate requires attention. Parents need more information about ways to increase lactation and reasons to start complementary feeding.

Factors affecting exclusive breastfeeding of healthy babies aged zero to four months: a community-based study of Turkish women

AIM

The purpose of this study was to determine the factors that affect exclusive breastfeeding of healthy babies aged 0-4 months.

BACKGROUND

Both the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF recommend feeding babies of 0-6 months exclusively with breast milk and starting complementary foods after the sixth month. In Turkey, however, a vast majority of babies 1-5 months of age (89.4%) are given complementary foods.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study was conducted in central Ankara province, with a sampling of 514 individuals who were selected using the convenience sampling method.

RESULTS

Of the 514 mothers who participated in my research, 260 (50.6%) were found to be feeding their babies exclusively with breast milk; 77 (15.0%), with breast milk + water; 87 (16.9%), with breast milk + baby formula; 70 (13.6%), with breast milk + baby formula + other foods; and 20 (3.9%), baby formula + other foods. Based on multivariate logistic regression analysis results, the mother's employment [odds ratio (OR) = 0.488; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.288-0.827) considerably reduced the incidence of complementary foods, while frequent crying of the baby (OR = 1.687; 95% CI = 1.125-2.530) significantly increased the use of supplementary foods in infant nutrition.

CONCLUSION

This study concluded that frequent crying of the baby increases the likelihood of giving the baby complementary foods. Midwives and nurses can encourage exclusive breastfeeding behaviour by providing individual education and counselling to women whose babies cry frequently.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE

Exclusive breastfeeding of babies aged 0-6 months is crucial for the development and growth of the baby and instrumental in reducing infant morbidities and mortalities. One factor that increases the likelihood of provision of complementary foods is frequent crying of the baby. Midwives and nurses can encourage exclusive breastfeeding behaviour by providing individual education and counselling to women whose babies cry frequently.