title: Fathers' knowledge about and attitudes towards breast feeding in Manisa, Turkey.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  to determine the extent of knowledge fathers of newborns have about breast feeding and lactation and to examine their attitudes regarding breast feeding.
  
  
  METHODS
  a descriptive, cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Manisa Maternity and Children's Hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  203 fathers of newborn infants.
  
  
  RESULTS
  although a wide majority of the participants (92.1%) expressed a desire to have their infants breastfed, it was found that only 58.6% discussed this with their partners. It was discovered that 88.7% of the fathers were happy to help with the housework so that their wives could breast feed while 57.6% stated that breast feeding would be psychologically beneficial to both the mother and the baby. Approximately half of the study subjects (48.8%) expressed an interest in attending an educational programme on breast feeding for fathers. The study also showed that the fathers' level of education, the type of family they were a part of and previously received education on lactation and breast feeding had an effect on their knowledge and attitudes toward breast feeding (p<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  it was seen that fathers were eager to have their infants breastfed but unable to adequately share such thoughts with their wives. It was also observed that their knowledge about breast feeding and lactation was limited, leading to the conclusion that fathers may benefit from a supportive educational programme on breast feeding.
authors: Department of Midwifery, Adnan Menderes University, Aydın School of Health, Aydın, Turkey. aytaspinar@yahoo.com
authors: Ayten
authors: A
authors: Taşpınar
authors: Ayden
authors: A
authors: Çoban
authors: Mert
authors: M
authors: Küçük
authors: Ahsen
authors: A
authors: Şirin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004505:Education, Nonprofessional; D005195:Family Relations; D005220:Fathers / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D010332:Paternal Behavior; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014421:Turkey