Breastfeeding Knowledge, Attitudes, and Perceptions of Breastfeeding Education Among Undergraduate Nursing Students...

Nurses with baccalaureate degrees are becoming the mainstay of China's nursing workforce and are an important force in supporting breastfeeding. This descriptive cross-sectional study aims to explore the breastfeeding knowledge and attitudes of undergraduate nursing students in China, as well as their perceptions of breastfeeding education. An online questionnaire survey was conducted among 428 undergraduate nursing students from 22 medical universities/colleges in China. The questionnaire was designed by the research team based on the results of literature reviews and the Guideline for Infant and Young Child Feeding and Nutrition. Most student participants (96.96%) expressed supportive attitudes toward breastfeeding. The average correct response rate on the breastfeeding knowledge questionnaire was low (54.80%). Of the students, 92.99% requested more breastfeeding education in the nursing school curriculum. This indicates that breastfeeding education included in the undergraduate nursing curriculum should be strengthened to adequately prepare students to support breastfeeding.