ACTITUDES Y PRÁCTICAS HACIA LA LACTANCIA MATERNA EN MUJERES EN PERIODO DE GESTACIÓN Y POST PARTO DEL CENTRO DE SALUD TIPO C RECREO 2 ANTES Y DESPUÉS DE SER EXPUESTAS A UN PROGRAMA DE CAPACITACIÓN

Abstract

Despite the benefits offered by breastfeeding (BF), it has been shown that a high percentage of infants (67%) don’t receive it during their first months of life. One of the reasons that explains this is the lack of maternal education. In addition, previous studies at an international level have shown that low/moderate levels of attitudes and practices towards BF also have a negative influence. Despite this, there is a considerable gap in the national literature (scarce and outdated) on attitudes and practices towards BF in pregnant women in the country. Only Mañanes & Torres have reported (low) levels of knowledge towards BF in mothers from Duran canton. Therefore, the present quasi-experimental study was designed with the objective of evaluating attitudes and practices towards BF in 53 mothers treated at a Health Center in Duran, applying a validated questionnaire before and after receiving training on BF. In the pre-intervention phase, low/moderate levels of attitudes and practices towards BF were found for almost 3 all questions except 4 and 5. After the intervention, levels increased considerably in all questions, and a decrease was recorded in the frequency of incorrect and unknown answers. In addition, the variables "postpartum" (p=0.008 and p=0.024 respectively) and "having 2 or more live children" (p=0.003 and p=0.736 respectively) were found to be significantly related to better levels both before and after the intervention. These results demonstrate the importance of educating mothers in Duran before, during and after pregnancy, and highlight the need to evaluate the levels of attitudes and practices towards BF before and after the intervention, in order to increase the benefits of BF and reduce public and family expenditure related to its interruption.