Breastfeeding Encouragement and Support of Health Professionals in the Hospitals

의료인의 모유수유에 대한 권장경험과 병원지원 실태조사

The purpose of this study was to investigate encouragement experience on breastfeeding of health professionals, and the support in their hospitals on breastfeeding. A questionnaire on breastfeeding was administered to the obstetricians, pediatricians and nurses at the department of pediatrics or obstetrics of university hospital and private hospital in Seoul and Choong-Chung Province in South Korea. Total numbers of study subjects were 346 (pediatrician 67, obstetrician 41, nurse 238). Data was statistically analyzed according to descriptive statistics, Chi-square test and multivariant analysis. The results were as follows : 1. Most of the respondents (93.6%) had a knowledge regarding breastfeeding which had more advantage than formula-feeding. But their experience to educate the mother about breastfeeding was very limited (34.8%). The major problems were insufficient concern of healthcare professionals, no trained personnel's and lack of education programs on breastfeeding. 2. Most of the respondents (82%) had learned breastfeeding management in class at the university. But 2/3 of them had not been educated on breastfeeding management after graduation. 3. More than half of the hospitals had no breastfeeding education programs. And they recommended the formula-feeding to the mothers. 4. Seventy percent of the respondents recognized that breastfeeding information offered to the mothers in their hospitals might help to increase the rate of breastfeeding. But only 40% of hospital had offered breastfeeding information using pamphlets or brochures. In our study, a majority of respondents had not been educated on breastfeeding after graduation. A personal experience in breastfeeding is known predictor of confidence in breastfeeding. Educational programs may have an effect to change the health professionals behavior. Therefore, it is necessary to assist health professionals in obtaining more knowledge about breastfeeding. Continuing education programs to health professionals should be offered by nation and regional organization.