Main Article Content
Breast-feeding knowledge and attitudes of medical students at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nigeria
Abstract
Objective: To determine the knowledge of and attitudes to breastfeeding among preclinical medical students of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi Campus.
Methods: Data collection was aided by a pre-tested, self-administered questionnaire from a cross-section of 280 randomly selected students.
Results: Two hundred and eighty students, 181 males and 99 females, were interviewed. The mean age of students was 22.3 ± 3.4 years. Eighty-seven percent of them had been breastfed, while 95.7% had observed a breastfeed. Eighty-eight percent of the females expressed intention to breastfeed their babies while 92.8% of the males would encourage their wives to breastfeed. The male students had a more positive attitude to, and were more knowledgeable about breastfeeding, than their female counterparts.
Conclusion: This study highlights the need for breastfeeding promotion strategies among female medical students to encourage them, in the future, to breastfeed and also champion the cause of breastfeeding as a child survival strategy.
Keywords: breastfeeding, knowledge, attitudes, students
Journal of College of Medicine Vol. 10(2) 2005: 75-78
Methods: Data collection was aided by a pre-tested, self-administered questionnaire from a cross-section of 280 randomly selected students.
Results: Two hundred and eighty students, 181 males and 99 females, were interviewed. The mean age of students was 22.3 ± 3.4 years. Eighty-seven percent of them had been breastfed, while 95.7% had observed a breastfeed. Eighty-eight percent of the females expressed intention to breastfeed their babies while 92.8% of the males would encourage their wives to breastfeed. The male students had a more positive attitude to, and were more knowledgeable about breastfeeding, than their female counterparts.
Conclusion: This study highlights the need for breastfeeding promotion strategies among female medical students to encourage them, in the future, to breastfeed and also champion the cause of breastfeeding as a child survival strategy.
Keywords: breastfeeding, knowledge, attitudes, students
Journal of College of Medicine Vol. 10(2) 2005: 75-78
