Encuesta sobre las actitudes de los profesionales ante la lactancia materna

Abstract

Encuesta sobre las actitudes de los profesionales ante la lactancia materna Introduction: the Initiative of Child-Friendly Hospitals and Healthcare Centres (IHAN) aims at improving the quality of care provided by the different healthcare centres, whether they are hospitals or Primary Care clinics, with the purpose of improving the quality of mother-father interactions with the newborn, also improving the rates of breastfeeding (BF) and the overall wellbeing of families. The implementation of most of these measures requires the favourable attitudes of healthcare professionals, since they do not always require complex means or resources, and thus their establishment in hospitals and healthcare centres is more a matter of motivation than of costly investment. Material and methods: a survey was made of professionals involved in paediatric care to assess their attitudes towards BF. The survey was distributed online using the mailing lists of the Spanish Association of Primary Care Paediatrics (AEPap). Results: 431 questionnaires were collected, of which 70% were filled by paediatricians, 11% by midwives, 8% by family physicians and nurses, and 4% by other professionals. 63% of the total was aware of the IHAN initiative. 45% of the respondents had a written document about BF, and approximately 58.7% knows at least one BF support group. 32% set up the first appointment with the newborn for the first week of life. 62.5% recommend introducing complementary foods after six months. 82.5% recommends the use of non-pharmacological measures for pain management. 37% is aware of and uses the growth charts of the World Health Organization. The use of these charts has a positive correlation with the recommendation of introducing complementary foods at six months. Discusion: we did not find any correlation between the recommendation of introducing complementary foods before six months and having received funding from the breast milk substitute industry.