Knowledge, attitudes and sources of information on breastfeeding among medical professionals in Baghdad

Abstract

A questionnaire to assess doctors’ knowledge, attitudes and training about breastfeeding was answered by 320 medical students, 75 resident doctors and 50 general practitioners in Baghdad, Iraq. Although attitudes towards breastfeeding were generally positive, less than 50% of medics had adequate scores on knowledge questions [>/= 50% correct]. Most general practitioners [86.0%] agreed that breast-feeding was the preferred type of feeding compared with only 58.4% of medical students and 57.3% of resident doctors. General practitioners who had been on training courses scored better than those who had not. The main sources of breastfeeding information were community medicine and paediatric courses and the main modes of breastfeeding instruction were lectures and clinical sessions. Medical school curricula and residency training do not adequately prepare physicians for their role in breastfeeding promotion

Impact of an Educational Intervention on Breastfeeding Counseling Behavior of OB/GYN Residents

“…10–13 However, in comparison to nurse midwives, studies have shown that discussions by physicians are infrequent (15–29%), 2,14,15 brief, and generally lacking in clear support of breastfeeding. 2 Deficiency in residency training curricula on breastfeeding has frequently been cited as a contributor to this problem 3–8,16 leading to a lack of knowledge and confidence in providers. Fortunately, studies have also shown that short educational sessions are effective in improving provider breastfeeding knowledge and skills.…”

“…In fact, information on breastfeeding has consistently been reported to be deficient among medical school and residency training curricula across specialties. [3][4][5][6][7] Hillenbrand and Larsen studied the effect of an educational intervention about breastfeeding on pediatric resident physicians in 2012 8 and reported that not only breastfeeding knowledge and confidence, but also clinical behaviors can be enhanced through educational interventions.…”

Impact of an Educational Intervention on Breastfeeding Counseling Behavior of OB/GYN Residents

“…10–13 However, in comparison to nurse midwives, studies have shown that discussions by physicians are infrequent (15–29%), 2,14,15 brief, and generally lacking in clear support of breastfeeding. 2 Deficiency in residency training curricula on breastfeeding has frequently been cited as a contributor to this problem 3–8,16 leading to a lack of knowledge and confidence in providers. Fortunately, studies have also shown that short educational sessions are effective in improving provider breastfeeding knowledge and skills.…”

“…In fact, information on breastfeeding has consistently been reported to be deficient among medical school and residency training curricula across specialties. [3][4][5][6][7] Hillenbrand and Larsen studied the effect of an educational intervention about breastfeeding on pediatric resident physicians in 2012 8 and reported that not only breastfeeding knowledge and confidence, but also clinical behaviors can be enhanced through educational interventions.…”

Newborn Feeding Knowledge and Attitudes among Medical Students

“…However, health professionals, including medical students, do not always obtain adequate training on newborn feeding during their academic careers [ 16 , 19 , 25 , 26 ]. In the study by Al-Nassaj and collaborators [ 27 ], though health professionals had a positive attitude towards breastfeeding, their knowledge was insufficient or inadequate. In the systematic review by Yang et al [ 28 ], it was evident that breastfeeding was only tackled during the maternal-infant health disciplines, and it was found that nursing, medical, and clinical students lacked knowledge about breastfeeding even after finalizing the maternal and child health study units.…”

Knowledge of Female Medical Students about Breastfeeding

“…Health care professionals can play a vital role in promoting breastfeeding. Studies from some Muslim countries have shown that although health professionals had a positive attitude towards breastfeeding, their knowledge was inadequate [6].…”

Impact of an Educational Intervention on Breastfeeding Counseling Behavior of OB/GYN Residents

“…10–13 However, in comparison to nurse midwives, studies have shown that discussions by physicians are infrequent (15–29%), 2,14,15 brief, and generally lacking in clear support of breastfeeding. 2 Deficiency in residency training curricula on breastfeeding has frequently been cited as a contributor to this problem 3–8,16 leading to a lack of knowledge and confidence in providers. Fortunately, studies have also shown that short educational sessions are effective in improving provider breastfeeding knowledge and skills.…”

“…In fact, information on breastfeeding has consistently been reported to be deficient among medical school and residency training curricula across specialties. [3][4][5][6][7] Hillenbrand and Larsen studied the effect of an educational intervention about breastfeeding on pediatric resident physicians in 2012 8 and reported that not only breastfeeding knowledge and confidence, but also clinical behaviors can be enhanced through educational interventions.…”

Newborn Feeding Knowledge and Attitudes among Medical Students

“…However, health professionals, including medical students, do not always obtain adequate training on newborn feeding during their academic careers [ 16 , 19 , 25 , 26 ]. In the study by Al-Nassaj and collaborators [ 27 ], though health professionals had a positive attitude towards breastfeeding, their knowledge was insufficient or inadequate. In the systematic review by Yang et al [ 28 ], it was evident that breastfeeding was only tackled during the maternal-infant health disciplines, and it was found that nursing, medical, and clinical students lacked knowledge about breastfeeding even after finalizing the maternal and child health study units.…”

Knowledge of Female Medical Students about Breastfeeding

“…Health care professionals can play a vital role in promoting breastfeeding. Studies from some Muslim countries have shown that although health professionals had a positive attitude towards breastfeeding, their knowledge was inadequate [6].…”

Impact of an Educational Intervention on Breastfeeding Counseling Behavior of OB/GYN Residents

“…10–13 However, in comparison to nurse midwives, studies have shown that discussions by physicians are infrequent (15–29%), 2,14,15 brief, and generally lacking in clear support of breastfeeding. 2 Deficiency in residency training curricula on breastfeeding has frequently been cited as a contributor to this problem 3–8,16 leading to a lack of knowledge and confidence in providers. Fortunately, studies have also shown that short educational sessions are effective in improving provider breastfeeding knowledge and skills.…”

“…In fact, information on breastfeeding has consistently been reported to be deficient among medical school and residency training curricula across specialties. [3][4][5][6][7] Hillenbrand and Larsen studied the effect of an educational intervention about breastfeeding on pediatric resident physicians in 2012 8 and reported that not only breastfeeding knowledge and confidence, but also clinical behaviors can be enhanced through educational interventions.…”

Newborn Feeding Knowledge and Attitudes among Medical Students

“…However, health professionals, including medical students, do not always obtain adequate training on newborn feeding during their academic careers [ 16 , 19 , 25 , 26 ]. In the study by Al-Nassaj and collaborators [ 27 ], though health professionals had a positive attitude towards breastfeeding, their knowledge was insufficient or inadequate. In the systematic review by Yang et al [ 28 ], it was evident that breastfeeding was only tackled during the maternal-infant health disciplines, and it was found that nursing, medical, and clinical students lacked knowledge about breastfeeding even after finalizing the maternal and child health study units.…”

Knowledge of Female Medical Students about Breastfeeding

“…Health care professionals can play a vital role in promoting breastfeeding. Studies from some Muslim countries have shown that although health professionals had a positive attitude towards breastfeeding, their knowledge was inadequate [6].…”