Breastfeeding: The neglected guideline for future Dietitian-Nutritionists
2007
Payne, Jan | Rogers, Barbara Radcliffe | BLANK, Emma | CHURCHILL, Elizabeth | HASSAN, Nadia | Cox, Elizabeth | PORTEOUS, Helen
The objective of the present study is to determine the knowledge, attitudes and beliefs regarding breastfeeding of final-year nutrition and dietetic students. A cross-sectional survey of final-year nutrition and dietetic students at a leading Australian university was conducted using an emailed questionnaire of 50 multiple-choice questions on knowledge, attitudes, beliefs and future intentions to support and promote breastfeeding. The frequency of response to all questions was determined. Twenty-seven of the 38 eligible students completed the survey. Significant deficits were identified relating to breastfeeding knowledge. Ninety-two per cent of respondents reported a future intention to breastfeed or support their partner to do so; yet 69% felt bottle feeding was more socially acceptable and 23% believed that using artificial formula was easier for the mother. Although 85% of respondents believed they could influence breastfeeding initiation and duration rates, no students perceived that their studies had provided a significant amount of information on this subject, while only 8% of respondents had a strong interest in work relating to breastfeeding in the future. Improvements in the curriculum in this context may be required to ensure new graduates have the appropriate knowledge and are motivated to take positive action so that breastfeeding is properly supported. Further research is needed to determine if this issue applies in other nutrition courses and to assess the need to adopt an industry position paper on breastfeeding and associated competency standards for vocational training.
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