Subhash Chandra Shaw1, Amit Devgan2. 1. Classified Specialist (Pediatrics) & Neonatologist, Command hospital (EC), Kolkata 700027, India. 2. Senior Advisor & Head of Department (Pediatrics), Command Hospital (EC), Kolkata 700027, India.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: As the primary physicians and nurses in hospitals are the first contact with the mothers, we carried out a questionnaire-based survey to assess the knowledge of the MBBS nonspecialist doctors and general duty nurses regarding breastfeeding of normal newborns. METHODS: Thirty-four MBBS, nonspecialist doctors and ninety-seven general duty nurses were enrolled in the study between August 2016 and September 2016 in a tertiary care teaching hospital, and a questionnaire comprising of 10 questions on breastfeeding was provided to each. RESULTS: All doctors (100%) and nurses (100%) agreed that breastfeeding must be started within 1 h of birth and all nurses (100%) agreed that breastfeeding alone is sufficient for a newborn baby during the first 2-3 days of life. However, 58.8% of the doctors and 25.7% of the nurses believed that after 6 months of life, the mother must give her infant cow's milk or formula for better growth. Only 52.9% of doctors and 40.2% of nurses agreed that breastfeeding should be advised to be continued for 2 years and beyond. Among doctors only 67.6% believed that breastfeeding for a normal newborn should be on demand only and not by clock. CONCLUSION: There is scope of improvement regarding knowledge of breastfeeding in both doctors and nurses. All healthcare providers must provide correct information to mothers to help them in successful breastfeeding.
BACKGROUND: As the primary physicians and nurses in hospitals are the first contact with the mothers, we carried out a questionnaire-based survey to assess the knowledge of the MBBS nonspecialist doctors and general duty nurses regarding breastfeeding of normal newborns. METHODS: Thirty-four MBBS, nonspecialist doctors and ninety-seven general duty nurses were enrolled in the study between August 2016 and September 2016 in a tertiary care teaching hospital, and a questionnaire comprising of 10 questions on breastfeeding was provided to each. RESULTS: All doctors (100%) and nurses (100%) agreed that breastfeeding must be started within 1 h of birth and all nurses (100%) agreed that breastfeeding alone is sufficient for a newborn baby during the first 2-3 days of life. However, 58.8% of the doctors and 25.7% of the nurses believed that after 6 months of life, the mother must give her infant cow's milk or formula for better growth. Only 52.9% of doctors and 40.2% of nurses agreed that breastfeeding should be advised to be continued for 2 years and beyond. Among doctors only 67.6% believed that breastfeeding for a normal newborn should be on demand only and not by clock. CONCLUSION: There is scope of improvement regarding knowledge of breastfeeding in both doctors and nurses. All healthcare providers must provide correct information to mothers to help them in successful breastfeeding.
Authors: Patrícia Kelly Silvestre; Maria Antonieta de Barros Leite Carvalhaes; Sônia Isoyama Venâncio; Vera Lúcia Pamplona Tonete; Cristina Maria Garcia de Lima Parada Journal: Rev Lat Am Enfermagem Date: 2009 Nov-Dec