title: Comparison of breast-feeding knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs before and after educational intervention for rural Appalachian high school students.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Breast-feeding rates in rural and southeastern regions of the United States are lower than national rates and Healthy People 2020 targets. The objectives of this study were to understand current breast-feeding knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs among rural southern Appalachian adolescents and to explore whether a high school educational intervention designed to address the five tenets (knowledge, attitudes, intentions, perceived behavioral control, and subjective norms) of the theory of planned behavior may be effective in increasing future rates of breast-feeding in this population.
  
  
  METHODS
  An educational session including an interactive game was developed and administered to occupational health science students during a single class period in two county high schools. A presurvey and a postsurvey administered 2 weeks after the intervention were completed by students. Pre- and postsurveys were analyzed using paired t tests and Cohen d and potential differences based on sex and grade were explored.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both pre- and postsurveys were completed by 107 students (78%). Knowledge, attitudes about breast-feeding benefits, subjective norms, and intentions significantly improved following the intervention. Baseline knowledge and attitudes about breast-feeding benefits for mothers were low and demonstrated the greatest improvement.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Offering breast-feeding education based on the theory of planned behavior in a single high school class session was effective in improving student knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about breast-feeding and intention to breast-feed.
authors: College of Public Health, the James H. Quillen College of Medicine, and the College of Nursing, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, USA.
authors: Allison K
authors: AK
authors: Seidel
authors: Karen E
authors: KE
authors: Schetzina
authors: Sherry C
authors: SC
authors: Freeman
authors: Meredith M
authors: MM
authors: Coulter
authors: Nicole J
authors: NJ
authors: Colgrove
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012424:Rural Population; D012574:Schools; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013714:Tennessee