Short-Term Effects of Structured Education on Breastfeeding

Abstract

Objective − Since it is known that awareness and attitudes about breastfeeding are formed in adolescence, the goal of this study was to question the short-term effects of structured breastfeeding education on a sample of students from a medical high school in Croatia.

Materials and Methods − Students from Medical School in Bjelovar were participants of this study; the experimental group consisted of 89 fourth graders versus 52 first graders in the control group. Their intentions, attitudes and knowledge about the breastfeeding were measured using a Breastfeeding Intentions, Attitudes and Knowledge questionnaire before the four-hour structured educational course was held, then 3 weeks and 3 months after the education. The results of the experimental group, who participated in the course, and the control group, who did not participate in the course, were compared.

Results − In the control group there were no significant differences in the results of the questionnaire of the participants between the first and the later two surveys. The results of the experimental group differ notably in all aspects of the questionnaire and the overall results of the questionnaire when comparing the results prior to the course and those 3 weeks and 3 months after it. The outcome of the course was better in women. The results of the knowledge questionnaire showed an inconsistent correlation with the results of the intentions and attitudes questionnaires.

Conclusion − The results confirm, the statistically significant improvement of attitudes, intentions and knowledge about breastfeeding in the experimental group, after the educational course on breastfeeding. Education about breastfeeding should contain not only recent information about breastfeeding but also specific activities aimed at correcting students’ attitudes and intentions regarding breastfeeding.