• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2018

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of a targeted, practical education intervention on university students' knowledge and attitudes toward breastfeeding. Methods: A university curricular intervention was designed for students to increase their knowledge and positive attitude toward breastfeeding issues. The participants attended a breastfeeding education lectures two hours of weekly for fifteen weeks in university; 61 students (female, n=31 and male, n=30) participated. The pre- and post-measurements included future breastfeeding intention, knowledge, attitude and perceived control beliefs scores based on the results of a questionnaire. Results: The statistical analysis results revealed a significant difference in the pretest and posttest scores (0.57 to 5.10 points, p<0.001) in regard to the students' breastfeeding knowledge. For female students, significant differences were observed in the future breastfeeding intention (p<0.05), knowledge (p<0.001), and attitudes towards breastfeeding (p<0.05) between the pretest and posttest scores. For male students, there were no significant differences in the future breastfeeding intention, attitudes towards breastfeeding, and perceived control beliefs scores after the breastfeeding education lecture. Conclusions: This study showed that the implementation of practical breastfeeding educational interventions helped improve university students' knowledge and attitudes toward breastfeeding. In summary, despite the limitations, it is necessary to pay more attention to improving students' knowledge and attitudes towards breastfeeding through university curricula.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.345-353
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• 2002

A survey was carried out to investigate the breastfeeding knowledge, breastfeeding rates ultra related factors among women in Seoul and the Chungbuk area, in order to obtain baseline data for the development of an education program on breastfeeding. Subjects included 671 lactating mothers who visited public health or pediatric centers, between December, 1999 and February, 2000 and were interviewed using a questionnaire. The results are as follows: In the breastfeeding knowledge, most of the subjects (93.4%) know correctly that 'breastfeeding is better for a baby's emotional development than formula feeding,'whereas only half of the subjects (51.7%) answered correctly the question on whether 'formula is more nutritious than breastmilk.'The breastfeeding rates were about 57%, 40%, 33% and 12%, respectively for baby's aged 1, 3, 6, and 12 months. These results showed that the breastfeeding rate rapidly decreased with the baby's age. Lower breastfeeding rates were associated with high educational level (college graduate and above), high income, mothers'employment, no experience of attending breastfeeding education programs, and no planning on breastfeeding prior to pregnancy. There was a significant relationship between the level of knowledge and breastfeeding practice; the higher the knowledge score, the higher the breastfeeding rate. In conclusion, an education program should be developed and offered for each low breastfeeding rate group, in order to promote breastfeeding.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.270-279
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• 2009

Purpose: This study was done to investigate the level of breastfeeding satisfaction, the relationship among knowledge about breastfeeding, attitude toward breastfeeding, self-efficacy of breastfeeding, intention of breastfeeding, and perceived social encouragement of breastfeeding and the factors influencing breastfeeding satisfaction in mothers 3~6 months after birth. Methods: For this descriptive research, 209 mothers who had been breastfeeding their babies agreed to participate in this study. Data on mother's satisfaction' knowledge, attitude, self-efficacy, intention, and perceived social encouragement regarding breastfeeding were collected by closed-ended questionnaires on September 14, 2007 at a contest for healthy breast-fed babies. Results: The major findings of this study were as follows: First, there were significant differences in the breastfeeding satisfaction level according to planned length of breastfeeding (F=10.43, p<.001). Second, there was a significant relationship between breastfeeding satisfaction and knowledge about breastfeeding (r=.37, p<.001), attitude toward breastfeeding (r=.62, p<.001), self-efficacy of breastfeeding (r=.66, p<.001), intention of breast feeding (r=.40, p<.001), and perceived social encouragement of breastfeeding (r=.32, p<.001). Finally, the strongest factor affecting mothers' breastfeeding satisfaction was attitude toward breastfeeding ($\beta=.38$). Other factors included self-efficacy of breastfeeding ($\beta=.36$), knowledge about breastfeeding ($\beta=.14$), perceived social encouragement of breastfeeding ($\beta=.10$), and planned length of breastfeeding ($\beta=.10$). Conclusion: This study suggests that nurses should help mothers improve breastfeeding satisfaction through promotion of knowledge about, attitudes toward, and self-efficacy of breastfeeding.

• The Journal of Korean Academic Society of Nursing Education
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.83-92
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• 2019

Purpose: This study was conducted to examine the relationships among knowledge, attitudes and nursing activities while breastfeeding among nursing students, and to identify factors influencing nursing activities in breastfeeding. Methods: The research participants were 172 nursing students in the nursing departments of 3 universities located in G city and J provinces. The students had successfully completed their obstetric and pediatric clinical practice courses. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficient and multiple regression. Results: Participants' scores for knowledge, attitudes and nursing activities while breastfeeding were $16.24{\pm}2.73$, $3.74{\pm}0.43$ and $3.49{\pm}0.43$, respectively. Knowledge and attitudes toward breastfeeding had positive correlations with nursing activities while breastfeeding. Factors influencing nursing students' nursing activities while breastfeeding included knowledge, attitudes toward breastfeeding, grade, breastfeeding educational experience, and breastfeeding intentions. These variables explained 18% of the variance in nursing activities while breastfeeding. Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, it would be beneficial to enhance knowledge and attitudes toward breastfeeding by developing education programs for breastfeeding.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.449-458
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• 2015

Purpose: Maternal knowledge, positive attitudes and interest toward breastfeeding may improve the sustainability of breastfeeding. This study examined the associations of knowledge, attitudes, and interest toward breastfeeding with the duration of breastfeeding in Korean mothers who used the internet. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of 604 Korean mothers who breastfed their babies. Mothers were recruited through the internet and their knowledge, attitudes and interest toward breastfeeding were assessed using a web-based self-administered questionnaire. Geometric means and odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence intervals were calculated. Results: Higher knowledge, attitudes, and interest toward breastfeeding were associated with longer duration of breastfeeding in Korean mothers. In particular, mothers who had optimal breastfeeding duration were more likely to be aware of the easiness of breast milk stimulation and breastfeeding, the development of attachment between mother and child, and pleasure from breastfeeding compared to those mothers with shorter duration. The association with optimal breastfeeding duration was more pronounced among mothers who graduated from high school for total attitude scores and total interest scores, compared to mothers who graduated from college or above. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that it is important to improve maternal knowledge, attitudes, and interest toward breastfeeding in Korean mothers who use the internet as a source of knowledge. Also, the study results imply that the development of strategies to target mothers with relatively low education levels may improve breastfeeding rates.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.379-388
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• 1999

Breastfeeding is an excellent way of feeding infants and continues to be an important source of nutrition and antibodies for infants. Although breast-feeding is believed to be important, the rate of breastfeeding among Korean women is very low. One reason for the low breastfeeding rate is that the health professionals in the past have given little practical help couples to overcome difficulties encountered during breastfeeding. The promotion of breastfeeding has recently become a high priority among health professionals because of the undisputed physiological, psychological, social, economic, and nutritional benefits. Fathers have been found to influence the course of breastfeeding, but no one has conducted a systematic investigation into in and included fathers perspectives of breastfeeding in Korea. It is important to find strategies to solve the problems by assessing the knowledge, attitude and practice of breastfeeding with fathers as well as mothers. The purpose of this research is to find ways to promote primiparous(first child) couples's breastfeeding by assessing their general knowledge, attitude and practice of it. More specifically its purposes is to identify the relationship between knowledge, attitude, practice and the background factors of breastfeeding of primiparous couples in order to promote and support breastfeeding. The data will help health professionals to guide first-pregnancy couples to prepare and overcome any difficulties encountered during breastfeeding. Data were collected through a questionnaire which included both structured and open-ended questions. The questionnaire was composed referencing earlier literature, studies and surveys. This survey was made postpartum 2-3days after childbirth on 96 couples. The numbers of subjects for data analysis were selected 51 couples through pilot screening test. Data were coded and analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences : Cronbach's alpha coefficient, T-test, ANOVA, Stepwise pearson's correlation coefficient. The relations between the variables of breastfeeding were examined using a Pearson's correlation coefficient. This study showed that, the internal validity of the instrument was tested by Cronbach's alpha. The result was : mother knowledge 0.72, mother attitude 0.88, and father knowledge 0.70, father attitude 0.92, practice 0.76 and planning of breast feeding 0.95. The average age of mothers in the sample was 28.9 years old, and the average age of fathers in the sample was 31.3 years old. The other descriptive informations available included. the study also found that fathers were more important than doctors or nurses. However results of the study indicate that there were no differences between father and mother knowledge of breastfeeding(t=-0.39, p=0.698), and father attitude was statistically significant higher than mother attitude of breastfeeding (t=2.24, p=0.030). In analysis, the variable 'practice' with breastfeeding was the relationship with mother knowledge (p=0.031) and mother attitude(p=0.015). In this study, the correlation between one couple' knowledge and attitude was not significant. Primiparous couples surveyed in the postpartum period regarding knowledge, attitude and practice about breastfeeding might be affected by recall bias, the effects of the euphoria of the first 24-48 hours postpartum, but these variables were not examined. This study results add to the body of knowledge about nursing care for breastfeeding mothers and fathers. This indicates that a need for education about breastfeeding and, that fathers be included in it as well as mothers.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.179-188
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• 2003

Purpose: The purpose of this study was examine levels of breastfeeding knowledge, attitude and number of breastfeeding problems in early postpartum period and rate of breastfeeding practice at 3 months. Method: The total numbers of the study subjects were 139 mothers at postpartum unit and followed by postpartum 1 week and 3 months. Result: 1. The mean score of knowledge and attitude and problems toward breast feeding scale were 22.83(SD=5.19), 20.99(SD=3.40), and 9.04(SD=3.59) respectively, indicating low to moderate level according to subjects characteristics, breastfeeding knowledge scores were significantly different by age (F=8.00, p<.001), breastfeeding experience (t=3.26, p<.001) and parity(t=2.39, p<.05), but no difference were found in rate of breastfeeding attitude and number of problems. 2. Rate of breastfeeding practice was 46.5% at three months of postpartum and the breastfeeding practice was significantly different by breastfeeding plan period($x^2$=13.33, p<.001) and monthly income ($x^2$= 3.80, p<.05). 3. Further, breastfeeding practice at 3 months was continuously influenced by number of problems of the breast-feeding(OR=.85) and breastfeeding plan period(OR=2.11) at early postpartum period. Conclusion: The findings suggest the necessity of maternal support during postpartum period to provide correct information about rate of breastfeeding knowledge and attitude to teach problem solving skills for any breastfeeding problems in order to increase rate of breastfeeding practice.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.258-270
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• 1998

The purpose of this study was to investigate the mother's knowledge level of breastfeeding's benefit and rationale of breastfeeding's benefit. The subjects were 98 mothers who within 3 days after childbirth in 2 obstetric clinic in K city and N city from April 7 to May 10, 1996. Data were collected by a questionnaire developed by researchers. This study was statistically analyzed according to Frequency, ANOVA, Pearson Correlation Coefficient. The result of this study was as follows : 1. Mean score of mother's knowledge level of breastfeeding's benefit was ranged from $0{\sim}19$. Mean score of breastfeeding's benefit was 10.28. Mean score of rationale of breastfeeding's benefit was 8.57. Mean score of rationale of breastfeeding's benefit and rationale of breastfeeding's benefit was not high. 2. General characteristics and feeding characteristics were significantly related to mother's knowledge level of breastfeeding's benefit as follows : mixed feeding method in planning feeding method(F=3.33, p<.05) 3. General characteristics and feeding characteristics were significantly related to mother's knowledge level of rationale of breastfeeding's benefit as follows : mixed feeding method in planning method(F=3.96, p<.05), mixed feeding method in previous feeding method(F=3.16, p<.05). 4. A positive correlation between mother's knowledge of breastfeeding's benefit and rationale of breastfeeding's benefit was statistically significant(r=.86, p<.001).

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.457-466
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• 2013

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of breastfeeding education experience on knowledge, control beliefs, and future intention toward breastfeeding to consider the needs of breastfeeding education program of university students. The breastfeeding knowledge, control beliefs and related habits of 445 male and female college students were evaluated between September 1, 2011 to April 30, 2012. Data were collected from self-administered questionnaires and analyzed using SPSS for Window V.17.0. ${\chi}^2$-test, t-test and ANOVA were used for the calculation of differences between groups. The percentage of students who intended to breastfeed their baby was 80.7% (male: 73.6%, female: 84.2%). Only 21.6% of students experienced breastfeeding education. Students planned to get information related to breastfeeding from their mothers (32.4%), breastfeeding experts (23.8%) and Medical doctors & nurses (10.6%). breastfeeding education group showed higher knowledge level (14.46 vs 10.56) and control beliefs (3.48 vs 3.16) to breastfeeding than non-education group (p < 0.001). General attitude toward breastfeeding was similar between groups; the specific intention to breastfeed for 6 months was higher in the education group (83.3% vs 58.2%) (p < 0.01). Percentage of students who gave correct answers to knowledge questions related to breastfeeding was also higher in the breastfeeding education group than non-education group (72.3% vs 52.8%). Among 20 questions, only 2 questions showed no significant differences between the groups. These findings suggested that breastfeeding education was effective in encouraging or improving breastfeeding practices.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.89-98
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• 2017

Purpose: This study was conducted to identify effects of breastfeeding knowledge, attitude, and barriers on breastfeeding practice on twin mothers and to provide basic data for successful breastfeeding for twins. Methods: Participants were 151 mothers with two to twelve months-old twins. Data were collected from online support groups by an online survey. Results: Mean score for breastfeeding knowledge was $18.34{\pm}4.63$, for breastfeeding attitude was $3.61{\pm}0.51$, and for barriers to breastfeeding was $13.35{\pm}1.08$. The breastfeeding practice rate was 27.8% when twins were two months old. The breastfeeding knowledge was significantly different depending on mother's occupation, number of children, utilization of postpartum caretaker, and age of the children. There were significant differences in the breastfeeding attitude depending on gestational week of twins, planned length of the breastfeeding, and decision period for the breastfeeding. The practice of the breastfeeding was significantly different depending on the number of children. Factors influencing the breastfeeding practice were the breastfeeding attitude (p<.05), age of mother (p<.01), and the number of children (p<.01). Conclusion: An educational program and expert-led supportive system that is designed for twins are necessary, and they need to be included in prenatal care in order to have positive attitude for the breastfeeding as well as to breastfeed successfully.