A Comparison of Maternal Knowledge About Breastfeeding in Baby-Friendly Maternity Hospital and not as yet Baby-Friendly Hospital
The aims of this study were to compare the level of knowledge about breastfeeding between the first-time mothers who gave birth in a Baby-Friendly Hospital and those who gave birth in a hospital that pursues this accreditation and to establish the intended duration of breastfeeding among the first-time mothers. METHODS. A descriptive and exploratory design was used. A study questionnaire was developed by researchers. The study was conducted at the Unit of Obstetrics, Hospital of the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences (HLUHS), that is accredited as a Baby-Friendly Hospital and the Kaunas P. Mažylis Maternity Hospital that pursues this type of accreditation. A total of 146 first-time mothers took part in this study. RESULTS. Having compared the level of knowledge about breastfeeding between mothers who gave birth in both hospitals, it was found that a significantly larger proportion of women who gave birth at the Kaunas P. Mažylis Maternity Hospital had correct knowledge about the composition of human breast milk. A significantly larger proportion of women who gave birth in the HLUHS had correct knowledge that in case of swollen breasts, a woman should breastfeed an infant more frequently. The majority (83.2%) of respondents pointed out that their level of knowledge about breastfeeding was closely or partly related to their decision to breastfeed an infant. CONCLUSIONS. After comparison of knowledge about breastfeeding between women who gave birth in both the hospitals, significant differences in responses were established in case of two questions. There was no significant difference in responses among respondents who gave birth in both hospitals with respect to the women’s decision on the intended duration of breastfeeding.
Correspondence to A. Vaškelytė Department of Nursing and Care, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, A. Mickevičiaus 9, 44307 Kaunas, Lithuania. alina_v@med.kmu.lt