Fathers' knowledge about and attitudes towards breast feeding in Manisa, Turkey

Abstract

Objective: to determine the extent of knowledge fathers of newborns have about breast feeding and lactation and to examine their attitudes regarding breast feeding.

Design: a descriptive, cross-sectional study.

Setting: Manisa Maternity and Children's Hospital. Participants: 203 fathers of newborn infants.

Findings: although a wide majority of the participants (92.1%) expressed a desire to have their infants breastfed, it was found that only 58.6% discussed this with their partners. It was discovered that 88.7% of the fathers were happy to help with the housework so that their wives could breast feed while 57.6% stated that breast feeding would be psychologically beneficial to both the mother and the baby. Approximately half of the study subjects (48.8%) expressed an interest in attending an educational programme on breast feeding for fathers.

The study also showed that the fathers' level of education, the type of family they were a part of and previously received education on lactation and breast feeding had an effect on their knowledge and attitudes toward breast feeding (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: it was seen that fathers were eager to have their infants breastfed but unable to adequately share such thoughts with their wives. It was also observed that their knowledge about breast feeding and lactation was limited, leading to the conclusion that fathers may benefit from a supportive educational programme on breast feeding