Adolescents’ Knowledge of Breastfeeding and Their Intention to Breastfeed in the Future

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to analyze third-year secondary school students’ knowledge of breastfeeding and intention to breastfeed their children, based on the results of a questionnaire. The respondents were 154 students (101 female/43 male) of two secondary schools in Bjelovar. The students completed a questionnaire which consisted of 23 questions regarding knowledge and intention to breastfeed. The answers were analyzed statistically and different results were compared by nonparametric tests. About half of the respondents think that both partners should decide on breastfeeding and recognize the role that fathers have in initiating and maintaining breastfeeding. Only 13.64% of the respondents know that breastfeeding is to be done only on demand. Exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months, as recommended by the medical profession, is recognized by 70.13% of the students. The question on how justified is the initiation of formula together with the mother’s milk was answered correctly by 29.22% of the students. Secondary school students’ knowledge of breastfeeding is insufficient, and schools, families, social communities and other sources of information should share the responsibility for improving this. We consider it necessary to pay more attention to improving students’ knowledge of breastfeeding through school curricula.

Knowledge, Attitude, Prior Exposure and Intention to Breastfeed among Undergraduate University Students

“…The present study also found significant association between breastfeeding exposure and intention (p <0.05). The present study was inconsistent with a study by Čatipović et al in which breastfeeding intention was found to be not statistically significantly between gender and the exposure to breastfeeding [43]. Similarly, other findings in the European countries also reported that breastfeeding attitude among undergraduates also appeared to be influenced by their previous exposure to breastfeeding but these did not reach a statistical significance [26,44].…”

Development and Validation of a Questionnaire on Breastfeeding Intentions, Attitudes and Knowledge of a Sample of Croatian Secondary-School Students

“…However, Croatia has not provided breastfeeding education in elementary and secondary education curricula [ 32 ]. Schools need to be offered an effective breastfeeding educational program which is not possible without evaluation of the program [ 21 , 23 , 33 ]. It is not possible to compare activities that are not methodologically uniform and measurable.…”

“…Therefore, the analysis of adolescents’ level of knowledge and intentions to breastfeed and examination of the effect that a structured breastfeeding education program might have on the potential change in their knowledge, attitudes and intentions are the first steps in the process of showing that breastfeeding education programs should be implemented in school settings. [ 23 ]. However, researchers have faced the problem of not having a validated tool to perform such analyses.…”

Breastfeeding Intention and Knowledge in Secondary-School Students

“…Statistically significant differences in participant responses indicate that considering schools where the survey was conducted, education about breastfeeding has not yet been implemented in a unique program of education about breastfeeding. International ( 68 , 69 ) and national authors ( 70 ) report on inadequate knowledge about breastfeeding in adolescents and thus reinforce the need for educational training of youth. The role of school as a standardized venue for gaining new knowledge is under-used in adolescent education about breastfeeding ( 69 ), thereby depriving the youth of essential information for future situations when they will have to make the right choice regarding breastfeeding ( 70 ).…”

“…International ( 68 , 69 ) and national authors ( 70 ) report on inadequate knowledge about breastfeeding in adolescents and thus reinforce the need for educational training of youth. The role of school as a standardized venue for gaining new knowledge is under-used in adolescent education about breastfeeding ( 69 ), thereby depriving the youth of essential information for future situations when they will have to make the right choice regarding breastfeeding ( 70 ). Appropriate breastfeeding education will provide a view of breastfeeding not only as a food, but will also provide insights into other aspects of breastfeeding.…”