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).

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Significance

Significance

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

Breastfeeding Knowledge, Attitudes and Behaviors. F. Ali-Ferre 4

Significance

National Goal

Healthy People 2010 to increase breastfeeding by

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

5Breastfeeding Knowledge, Attitudes and Behaviors. F. Ali-Ferre

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.

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DelineationDelineation

Target population

Women living in Carbondale, Illinois.

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

8Breastfeeding Knowledge, Attitudes and Behaviors. F. Ali-Ferre

Delineation

Sample

Women 18-40 years old.

Random sampling.

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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

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Method: Data Analysis

Test Knowledge Beliefs Behavior

KR20 0.5 - 0.89

- 0.29 0.86

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Reliability

Method: Data AnalysisDescriptive statistics Excel 2007

Frequency distribution

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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)

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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

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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)

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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

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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.

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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

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Behavior (reasons for not breastfeeding)

Respondents

Medication, doctor did not recommend.

1

Mother (50%) 2

Partner (75%) 1

School (50%) 1

Results: Behavior

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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.

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Conclusion and Recommendations

No significant difference in Attitude between races.

Average Knowledge (K) test score low

Need to increase K.

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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.

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ImplicationsFocus on WIC program.

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

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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.

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