Research Article
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Abstract
Nurses are on the front line of the healthcare system and should, therefore, have the evidence-based knowledge to manage breastfeeding. The objective of this study was to assess the attitudes and knowledge about human lactation among a group of nursing students. An anonymous online survey was sent to all College of Nursing students at a local university in Kentucky. Nursing students participating in the survey favored breastfeeding over formula feeding for infants. Lack of knowledge and various misconceptions about breastfeeding were reported. Whether a nursing student has or has not completed a class about human lactation during the nursing program, and has had or not had children, significantly influences their attitudes and knowledge toward breastfeeding. Future studies should focus on identifying if nursing faculty members and nursing students recognize human lactation as a value and central knowledge for nurses.
Figures
Tables
Table 1.
Demographic Characteristics of Nursing Student Respondents (N = 135)
| Variable | n (%) |
|---|---|
| Age range (years) | |
| 18–20 | 23 (17) |
| 21–24 | 49 (36.3) |
| 25–30 | 23 (17) |
| 31–39 | 21 (15.6) |
| ≥40 | 19 (14.1) |
| Gender | |
| Female | 133 (98.5) |
| Male | 2 (1.5) |
| Ethnic background | |
| White | 116 (85.9) |
| African American | 4 (3) |
| Hispanic | 3 (2.2) |
| Asian | 7 (5.2) |
| Other | 4 (3) |
| Educationa | |
| Freshman | 1 (0.7) |
| Sophomore | 24 (17.8) |
| Junior | 30 (22.2) |
| Senior | 21 (15.6) |
| Second degree | 14 (10.4) |
| DNP | 33 (24.4) |
| PhD | 11 (8.1) |
| Other | 1 (0.7) |
| Place of birth | |
| Kentucky | 61 (45.2) |
| Other states in the United Statesb | 30 (48.1) |
| Outside the United Statesc | 9 (6.7) |
| With or without children | |
| With children | 41 (30.4) |
| Without children | 94 (69.6) |
a Standing at the moment of the internet survey.
b AL, AZ, AR, CA, CO, DE, FL, HI, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, MD, MI, MN, MO, NC, OH, PA, TN, TX, WA, and WV.
c Brazil, Chile, England, Indonesia, Korea, Nigeria, Philippines, South Korea, and Thailand.
Table 2.
Descriptive Summary of Attitude and Knowledge About Human Lactation of Nursing Students Respondents (N = 135)
| Variable | Total Mean (SD) | Before Class (n = 55) Mean (SD) | After Class (n = 80) Mean (SD) | F | p |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Breastfeeding is beneficial for the mother and reduces the risk for illness | 4.43 (0.82) | 4.20 (0.95) | 4.59 (0.69) | 7.552 | .007 |
| Breastfeeding is beneficial for the baby and reduces the risk for illnessa | 4.78 (0.45) | 4.67 (0.51) | 4.86 (0.38) | 5.917 | .016 |
| Women with small breasts do not produce enough milka | 1.74 (0.6) | 1.87 (0.61) | 1.65 (0.58) | 4.782 | .031 |
| Lack of family support as a barrier for breastfeeding | 3.24 (1.19) | 2.91 (1.16) | 3.46 (1.17) | 7.358 | .008 |
| Doctors know a lot about breastfeeding | 3.03 (1.01) | 3.27 (0.93) | 2.86 (1.03) | 5.594 | .019 |
| Frequent nursing and holding will spoil the baby and make him too dependent | 1.68 (0.74) | 1.87 (0.80) | 1.55 (0.67) | 6.458 | .012 |
| A breastfeeding mother has to be obsessive about what she eatsa | 2.09 (0.74) | 2.25 (0.78) | 1.97 (0.70) | 4.763 | .031 |
| A mother who smokes should not breastfeedb | 3.01 (1.28) | 3.39 (1.32) | 2.75 (1.18) | 8.585 | .004 |
| A mother who drinks alcohol should not breastfeed | 3.47 (1.16) | 3.73 (1.21) | 3.29 (1.11) | 4.782 | .030 |
a n = 134, 1 subject missed.
b n = 133, 2 subjects missed.
Article usage
| Period | Abstract | Full | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 2024 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 9 |
| Mar 2024 | 5 | 24 | 3 | 32 |
| Feb 2024 | 56 | 3 | 5 | 64 |
| Jan 2024 | 9 | 3 | 2 | 14 |
| Dec 2023 | 7 | 1 | 3 | 11 |
| Nov 2023 | 27 | 6 | 8 | 41 |
| Oct 2023 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 8 |
| Sep 2023 | 11 | 0 | 2 | 13 |
| Aug 2023 | 8 | 7 | 3 | 18 |
| Jul 2023 | 2 | 9 | 1 | 12 |
| Jun 2023 | 8 | 10 | 2 | 20 |
| May 2023 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 15 |
| Apr 2023 | 7 | 2 | 5 | 14 |
| Mar 2023 | 9 | 10 | 7 | 26 |
| Feb 2023 | 7 | 3 | 5 | 15 |
| Jan 2023 | 4 | 7 | 8 | 19 |
| Dec 2022 | 8 | 4 | 9 | 21 |
| Nov 2022 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 12 |
| Oct 2022 | 9 | 11 | 7 | 27 |
| Sep 2022 | 7 | 9 | 5 | 21 |
| Aug 2022 | 10 | 7 | 6 | 23 |
| Jul 2022 | 7 | 12 | 6 | 25 |
| Jun 2022 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 14 |
| May 2022 | 26 | 8 | 11 | 45 |
| Apr 2022 | 12 | 13 | 6 | 31 |
| Mar 2022 | 11 | 8 | 12 | 31 |
| Feb 2022 | 10 | 9 | 7 | 26 |
| Jan 2022 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 19 |
| Dec 2021 | 3 | 13 | 4 | 20 |
| Nov 2021 | 3 | 8 | 8 | 19 |
| Oct 2021 | 22 | 15 | 5 | 42 |
| Sep 2021 | 12 | 5 | 12 | 29 |
| Aug 2021 | 4 | 8 | 9 | 21 |
| Jul 2021 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 13 |
| Jun 2021 | 10 | 13 | 6 | 29 |
| May 2021 | 5 | 7 | 4 | 16 |
| Apr 2021 | 17 | 11 | 2 | 30 |
| Mar 2021 | 14 | 34 | 10 | 58 |
| Feb 2021 | 17 | 17 | 4 | 38 |
| Jan 2021 | 12 | 7 | 2 | 21 |
| Dec 2020 | 5 | 11 | 2 | 18 |
| Nov 2020 | 17 | 19 | 2 | 38 |
| Oct 2020 | 17 | 21 | 8 | 46 |
| Sep 2020 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 12 |
| Aug 2020 | 3 | 6 | 2 | 11 |
| Jul 2020 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 8 |
| Jun 2020 | 9 | 8 | 4 | 21 |
| May 2020 | 9 | 9 | 1 | 19 |
| Apr 2020 | 5 | 15 | 2 | 22 |
| Mar 2020 | 7 | 17 | 3 | 27 |
| Feb 2020 | 9 | 19 | 6 | 34 |
| Jan 2020 | 4 | 14 | 3 | 21 |
| Dec 2019 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 11 |
| Nov 2019 | 12 | 12 | 3 | 27 |
| Oct 2019 | 5 | 9 | 3 | 17 |
| Sep 2019 | 16 | 4 | 3 | 23 |
| Aug 2019 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Jul 2019 | 15 | 0 | 2 | 17 |
| Jun 2019 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 10 |
| May 2019 | 24 | 0 | 1 | 25 |
| Apr 2019 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
| Mar 2019 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| Feb 2019 | 25 | 0 | 0 | 25 |
| Jan 2019 | 15 | 1 | 1 | 17 |
| Dec 2018 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 6 |
| Nov 2018 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 19 |
| Oct 2018 | 12 | 2 | 2 | 16 |
| Sep 2018 | 15 | 1 | 0 | 16 |
| Aug 2018 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 10 |
| Jul 2018 | 36 | 11 | 5 | 52 |
| Jun 2018 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 5 |
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