Breastfeeding knowledge among health professionals in Taiwan

This study was designed to evaluate the breastfeeding knowledge among different discipline of health professionals nationwide. From July 2002 to October 2002, Society of Neonatology, R.O.C. held six one-day seminars on the topic of breastfeeding in four districts in Taiwan. One thousand one hundred and fifty-two professionals attended these conferences. A questionnaire of twenty breastfeeding questions was distributed and collected before the conference then the result was analyzed. Eight hundred seventy three of them (83%) fulfilled the questionnaire. Five hundred thirty five of them (61.3%) were clinical nurses, 252 (28.9%) were public health nurses, 49 (5.6%) were physicians and 37 (4.2%) were other paramedical professionals. The average knowledge score were 78.6 (full score 100). A question about counseling got the worst correct answer rate (29.8%). Participants from northern part of Taiwan, having occupation as clinical nurses or physicians, having attended in-service education, working in level III and II hospitals showed positive relationship with the knowledge score.

We suggested that when conducting breastfeeding promotion programs, we have to look at districts disparity. Education should include not only the information but also the counseling skills to support breastfeeding mothers.