survey of breasfeeding knowledge, beliefs and behaviors among women in carbondale

1

Fatimah Ali-Ferre´CHES

SignificanceBenefits

Health, nutritional, immunologic, developmental,

psychological, social, economic, and environmental benefits.

2Breastfeeding Knowledge, Attitudes and Behaviors. F. Ali-Ferre

Lower incidence of infectious diseases, respiratory disease, allergies, obesity, SDS, etc. (Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality).

Breastfeeding Knowledge, Attitudes and Behaviors. F. Ali-Ferre 3

Significance

Significance

Exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months should support optimal growth and development of a child (AAP).


Significance

National Goal

Healthy People 2010 to increase breastfeeding by

75% at postpartum, 60% at 6 months and 25% at 1 year (CDC).


Photo: AP / Pat Roque)

Study PurposeTo find:

The disparities in breastfeeding knowledge (K), beliefs/attitudes (A) and behaviors (B).

6Breastfeeding Knowledge, Beliefs and Behaviors. F. Ali-Ferre

Theory

The Health Belief Model- People’s behavior influenced by their knowledge and beliefs.

A woman will (not) breastfeed depends on direct/indirect factors affecting these variables.

Breastfeeding Knowledge, Beliefs and Behaviors. F. Ali-Ferre 7

DelineationDelineation

Target population

Women living in Carbondale, Illinois.

Sample50 respondents from a localOB/GYN office at time of their doctor’s office.


Delineation

Sample

Women 18-40 years old.

Random sampling.


Method: Instrument Measurement

Instrument

Item Scale

Knowledge 12 Yes/No

Attitudes 13 Likert scale 1-5

SD Strongly disagree D DisagreeIDK I don’t know A Agree SA Strongly agree

Behaviors 13 Likert scale 1 Always (100%)2 Mostly (75%)3 Often (50%)4 Never (0%)

Breastfeeding Knowledge, Attitudes and Behaviors. F. Ali-Ferre

10

Method: Data Analysis

Test Knowledge Beliefs Behavior

KR20 0.5 - 0.89

- 0.29 0.86


Reliability

Method: Data AnalysisDescriptive statistics Excel 2007

Frequency distribution



Descriptive Statistics

Data Analysis

Inferential Statistics

Independent t-test for K, A and B scores for difference between groups ( races and education).

Correlation analysis between K and A.

14Breastfeeding Knowledge, Beliefs and Behaviors. F. Ali-Ferre

Results: KnowledgeT-test Results for Knowledge (12 items)


Item Master’s and some high school

Associate degree and some college

African American and White

Expecting and those not expecting

Result

0.13 0.32 0.002 0.07


Items Group mean

Group mean Expectingmothers

Item 5 Item 6 Item 7

Proportion incorrect

Result

6.3 6.8 98% 92% 88%

Results for Knowledge (12 items)


Items Item test mean

1. There is an economic benefit of breastfeeding.

4.18

4. Breastfeeding means I have to eat and drink differently.

3.48

7. Breastfeeding is good for me.

3.94

12. I don't think I know enough about breastfeeding.

3.22

Likert scale 1-5SA=5A=4

DA=3

SD=2

IDK=1

Results: Attitude


Items Item test mean

5. I would be embarrassed if someone saw me breastfeeding.

2.7

6. Breastfeeding makes the breasts sag.

2.74

9. Breastfeeding is painful. 2.9

11. I don't think I know enough about breastfeeding.

2.76

10. Breastfeeding means I can't go back to school or/and work.

1.86

Results: Attitude

Results: AttitudeCorrelation coefficient

Inverse relation between K and A

-0.32

T-test=0.159 (.05); not a significant difference btw African Americans and Whites.



Behavior Expecting womenWill breastfeed, not sure of duration.

11

Exclusively 1 year. 1

Exclusively 18 months. 1

Bottle feeding 2

Thinking of breastfeeding but not sure

2

1 month 2

6 months 8

Not thinking of breastfeeding, no decision.

1

Total 28

Results: Behavior


Behavior (reasons for not breastfeeding)

Respondents

Medication, doctor did not recommend.

1

Mother (50%) 2

Partner (75%) 1

School (50%) 1

Results: Behavior


Results: Behavior

Conclusion and RecommendationsDisparity in breastfeeding K between

African

Americans and Whites.

Need targeted programming

No significant difference in K

Educational levels

Between expecting mothers and those that are not.


Conclusion and Recommendations

No significant difference in Attitude between races.

Average Knowledge (K) test score low

Need to increase K.


Conclusion and Recommendations

Revise content of

breastfeeding information

provided through physicians,

health departments and

hospitals.Breastfeeding Knowledge, Attitudes and Behaviors. F. Ali-Ferre 25

ImplicationsFindings could be utilized as part of a

pilot study to create a breastfeeding promotion program for the women of Carbondale.

Majority on Medicaid implies modest income

Need to research further for SES barriers to breastfeeding.


ImplicationsFocus on WIC program.

Apply Stages of Change Theory to learning material to target the “intending but undecided” group.


Limitations and Recommendations

Items for attitudes should be revised since the CA was not within an accepted value.

A likely response bias may have affected the survey because respondents’ significant others were seated next to them.

Participation skewed towards Medicaid recipients.

Pilot study needs more research.


survey of breasfeeding knowledge, beliefs and behaviors among women in carbondale

Documents

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frequency distribution

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