The Attitudes of Breastfeeding Mothers and Healthcare Professionals About Breastfeeding

The attitudes of breastfeeding mothers and healthcare professionals greatly influence decisions about initiation of breastfeeding, duration of breastfeeding, and repeated breastfeeding in multiparous women.

This research aimed to examine, through a questionnaire, the attitudes of breastfeeding mothers and healthcare professionals about breastfeeding in the area covered by the district nurses of the Zagreb-West Health Center. 76 mothers and 74 healthcare professionals participated in the study, which was conducted during 2021.

All healthcare professionals (100%) believe that breastfeeding in the first 6 months is important, and 97% of them believe that they are adequately educated about proper breastfeeding techniques. Furthermore, 98% of them believe that they provide mothers with all the necessary help and support regarding breastfeeding. 93% of healthcare professionals support breastfeeding in public. Most breastfeeding mothers were over 30 years old and had a higher level of education. Only 47% of women in the maternity unit had skin-to-skin contact, while 73% stayed in the room with their baby. In 89% of women, the first breastfeeding occurred within the first hour after birth. The greatest assistance during breastfeeding was provided to mothers by healthcare personnel (94%).

Continuous education of healthcare professionals and raising public awareness about the importance of breastfeeding must be a priority for every society.