Breastfeeding Knowledge and Attitudes among Midwifery Diploma Students in Jordan: A Descriptive Study

BACKGROUND: Healthcare providers widely support breastfeeding as the optimal form of nutrition for infants. Midwives play a vital role in assisting the mothers to initiate and continue breastfeeding. Therefore, they must acquire proper knowledge accompanied by positive attitudes toward breastfeeding during college education. The main aim of the present study was to assess the knowledge and attitudes of diploma midwifery students toward breastfeeding. METHODS: This is a descriptive cross-sectional study. A short version of the Australian Breastfeeding Knowledge and Attitude Questionnaire (ABKAQ-SF) was distributed among 72 diploma midwifery students from one community college in July 2018, using convenience sampling. Data were analyzed using SPSS software, and the statistical significance was set at P<0.05 level. RESULTS: Results revealed neutral attitudes (a mean score of 3.02±0.36 out of 5), coupled with a lack of breastfeeding knowledge (mean score was 10.07±2.38 out of 22), particularly knowledge regarding breastfeeding problem management. Midwifery students’ knowledge and attitudes scores were significantly correlated with one another (r=0.68, P=0.001). Demographic variables such as age, year of study, residency place, or personal breastfeeding experiences affected neither the students’ breastfeeding knowledge nor their attitudes. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study highlight the need for reforming the curricula of midwifery colleges. Midwifery curricula should provide in-depth knowledge of human lactation physiology and management and give students the basic skills they need to assist breastfeeding women. At the same time, it should focus on the development of supportive and positive attitudes toward breastfeeding.