Breast feeding: knowledge of mothers admitted to the rooming-in of a university hospital

Abstract

Breast feeding is a fundamental practice for the health of the mother-son, and knowledge of mothers on the subject is an important factor in that practice. This was a descriptive quantitative study that aimed to identify the knowledge about breastfeeding of mothers admitted to the rooming-in of a university hospital in Triângulo Mineiro. The participants were 48 mothers admitted in that rooming-in in August 2008. Data were collected through a questionnaire and they were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Most of them were women with low level of education, low monthly income and working outside the home. Although the majority of women have been targeted on the breast feeding in their prenatal, they did not have enough knowledge about breast hygiene, frequency and duration of breast feeding, complementary feeding and breast engorgement. However, they correctly answered questions about exclusive breastfeeding, lack of weak milk and optimal time of the first feeding. Thus, the awareness and training of health professionals in relation to breastfeeding, and their work with pregnant and nursing women in prenatal, postpartum and throughout the nursing period are essential to expand the knowledge of mothers about breastfeeding and favors increased prevalence and duration of this social practice.