Altwalbeh Diala
Department of Allied Medical Sciences, Faculty of Karak College, Al-Balqa Applied University, Salt, Jordan.
Int J Community Based Nurs Midwifery. 2021 Oct;9(4):325-335. doi: 10.30476/ijcbnm.2021.88755.1542.
Healthcare providers widely support breastfeeding as the optimal form of nutrition for infants. Midwives play a vital role in assisting the mothers to initiate and continue breastfeeding. Therefore, they must acquire proper knowledge accompanied by positive attitudes toward breastfeeding during college education. The main aim of the present study was to assess the knowledge and attitudes of diploma midwifery students toward breastfeeding.
This is a descriptive cross-sectional study. A short version of the Australian Breastfeeding Knowledge and Attitude Questionnaire (ABKAQ-SF) was distributed among 72 diploma midwifery students from one community college in July 2018, using convenience sampling. Data were analyzed using SPSS software, and the statistical significance was set at P<0.05 level.
Results revealed neutral attitudes (a mean score of 3.02±0.36 out of 5), coupled with a lack of breastfeeding knowledge (mean score was 10.07±2.38 out of 22), particularly knowledge regarding breastfeeding problem management. Midwifery students' knowledge and attitudes scores were significantly correlated with one another (r=0.68, P=0.001). Demographic variables such as age, year of study, residency place, or personal breastfeeding experiences affected neither the students' breastfeeding knowledge nor their attitudes.
The findings of this study highlight the need for reforming the curricula of midwifery colleges. Midwifery curricula should provide in-depth knowledge of human lactation physiology and management and give students the basic skills they need to assist breastfeeding women. At the same time, it should focus on the development of supportive and positive attitudes toward breastfeeding.
医疗保健提供者广泛支持母乳喂养，认为这是婴儿最佳的营养方式。助产士在协助母亲开始并持续进行母乳喂养方面发挥着至关重要的作用。因此，她们在大学教育期间必须掌握有关母乳喂养的适当知识，并持有积极的态度。本研究的主要目的是评估助产专业文凭学生对母乳喂养的知识和态度。
这是一项描述性横断面研究。2018年7月，采用便利抽样的方法，向一所社区学院的72名助产专业文凭学生发放了澳大利亚母乳喂养知识与态度问卷简版（ABKAQ-SF）。使用SPSS软件对数据进行分析，设定统计学显著性水平为P<0.05。
结果显示态度中立（5分制下平均分为3.02±0.36），同时缺乏母乳喂养知识（22分制下平均分为10.07±2.38），尤其是关于母乳喂养问题管理的知识。助产专业学生的知识得分与态度得分显著相关（r=0.68，P=0.001）。年龄、学习年份、居住地点或个人母乳喂养经历等人口统计学变量既不影响学生的母乳喂养知识，也不影响他们的态度。
本研究结果突出了改革助产学院课程的必要性。助产课程应提供人类泌乳生理学和管理方面的深入知识，并赋予学生协助母乳喂养女性所需的基本技能。同时，应注重培养对母乳喂养支持和积极的态度。
