Does breastfeeding education affect nursing staff beliefs, exclusive breastfeeding rates, and Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative compliance? The experience of a small, rural Canadian hospital.
The effectiveness of a breastfeeding education intervention consisting of a 1 1/2-hour mandated session for all nursing staff, with an optional self-paced tutorial, was evaluated in a small rural Canadian hospital. The intervention was designed to increase exclusive breastfeeding rates, create positive beliefs and attitudes among staff members, and increase compliance with the World Health Organization/UNICEF Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI). Staff surveys and chart audits were conducted at both the intervention and control site hospitals prior to the intervention and 7 months after the intervention. Over a 7-month period, the intervention hospital experienced an increase in BFHI compliance (24.4 vs. 31.9, P < .01), breastfeeding beliefs (55.0 vs. 58.8, P < .05), and exclusive breastfeeding rates (31% vs. 54% of breastfed babies, P < .05) but no change in breastfeeding attitudes (44.0 vs. 44.9, P = .80). The control site experienced no change in BFHI compliance, beliefs, or attitudes but a significant decrease in exclusive breastfeeding rates (43% vs. 0%, P < .05).
Martens
P J
PJ
Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, R2008-351 Tache Avenue, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R2H2A6.
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004509:Education, Nursing, Continuing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006780:Hospitals, Rural; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007318:Inservice Training / Q000458:organization & administration*; D008350:Manitoba; D016389:Maternal-Child Nursing / Q000193:education*; D009731:Nursing Audit; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000193:education* / Q000523:psychology*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D014944:World Health Organization