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.

The Influence of Participation in Pregnancy Courses and Breastfeeding Support Groups on Attitudes and Knowledge of Health Professionals about Breastfeeding

“…However, it is not quite that simple. Duarte warns that the knowledge of health professionals about breastfeeding is conflicting and that there is no research on the knowledge of dentists [ 34 ]. Pharmacists often make unnecessary recommendations about stopping breastfeeding while taking medication [ 35 ].…”

Conhecimento de enfermeiros sobre alimentação infantil

“…A implantação de programas de promoção do aleitamento materno destaca-se por sua importância para a capacitação dos profissionais de saúde sobre a temática, tendo em vista que o conhecimento deficiente constitui um fator relevante que prejudica as práticas de educação em saúde e de promoção da saúde integral da criança, provoca a adoção de orientações equivocadas, e, portanto, inibe a mudança de comportamento. No contexto do aleitamento materno, essa conjuntura representa a possibilidade de evadir a melhor fonte de proteção e nutrição do bebê (38,39) . Assim, no Brasil, mudanças na disponibilidade de horários dos membros das equipes de saúde e no envolvimento de pessoal qualificado na gestão das ações de alimentação e nutrição são imprescindíveis à concretização de processos de educação permanente na área (40) .…”