An evaluation of the breastfeeding support skills of midwives and voluntary breastfeeding supporters using the Breastfeeding Support Skills Tool (BeSST)

Abstract

The promotion of breastfeeding has been established as a global public health issue. Despite this global agenda, breastfeeding initiation and duration rates remain low in many countries. The lack of provision of adequate support to the breastfeeding mother is an important contributory factor to shorter duration of breastfeeding. Health professionals and voluntary breastfeeding supporters are in a prime position to work collaboratively to provide comprehensive support to the breastfeeding mother. However, a comparative evaluation of the breastfeeding support skills of voluntary breastfeeding supporters and health professionals has never been conducted. This study aimed to assess the breastfeeding support skills of midwives and Breastfeeding Network (BfN) supporters. Breastfeeding support skills were assessed using a between-subjects design conducted with 15 midwives and 15 BfN supporters in the north-west of England. Support skills were measured using the prevalidated Breastfeeding Support Skills Tool (BeSST), a questionnaire and video tool. Total scores on the BeSST were significantly higher in the BfN group (mean = 42.5 +/- 6.4 SD) than in the midwife group (mean = 30.7 +/- 8.2 SD) [t (26.5) = 4.4, P < 0.0001]. The BfN group has the breastfeeding support skills necessary to provide adequate assistance for breastfeeding mothers. An interagency and interdisciplinary collaborative model is crucial to developing a coherent and cohesive approach to the support infrastructure for breastfeeding women.

The education of health practitioners supporting breastfeeding women: time for critical reflection

“…The exception appears to be nurses possessing the International Board of Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) qualifications (Cantrill et al . 2003a,b) and those who possess qualifications with a voluntary breastfeeding support organization (Hall Moran et al . 2005;Smale et al .…”

“…embodied, vicarious, formal and practicebased knowledge. In particular, there is inadequate opportunity for practitioners to explore embodied and vicarious knowledge within formal educational situations (Hall Moran et al . 2005;Smale et al .…”

“…Remuneration for these groups should be provided. The programmes of education for breastfeeding counsellors and peer supporters (Smale 2004;Hall Moran et al 2005) appear to offer enormous potential for health practitioners. The curricula include training in breastfeeding support, with particular emphasis upon listening and counselling skills and working within groups.…”

O aleitamento materno na perspectiva da vulnerabilidade programática e do cuidado

“…A provisão de adequado suporte tem sido um fator importante para a questão da duração do aleitamento materno 5 . O apoio pós-parto às mulheres pode trazer efeitos positivos, em especial para jovens e primíparas, com repercussões na amamentação por mais tempo, maior autoestima, menos depressão e mães mais aptas a cuidar dos bebês 6 .…”

“…Essa agenda global é recomendada, mas os indicadores de início e de duração do aleitamento materno têm sido baixos em muitos países 5,8 .…”