IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v20y2022i1p103-d1010754.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The Current Status of Breastfeeding Knowledge and Its Influencing Factors in Nursing Undergraduates: A Cross-Sectional Study in China

Author

Listed:
  • Keqin Liu

    (School of Nursing, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China)

  • Jinjin Guo

    (School of Nursing, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China)

  • Weixi Deng

    (School of Nursing, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China)

  • Yanwei Su

    (School of Nursing, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China)

Abstract

The aim of this study was to explore the breastfeeding knowledge of nursing undergraduates and the influencing factors. Human milk (HM) is one of the most effective nutritional supplies to improve early development and physical health, but the current status of breastfeeding in China is still not optimal. The breastfeeding knowledge of perinatal women influences their feeding beliefs and behavior. Nursing undergraduates, as core professionals who will care for perinatal women and provide feeding guidance in the future, can significantly affect feeding behavior of mothers and their babies, so their knowledge of breastfeeding may have a potential impact on breastfeeding in China. However, studies on breastfeeding knowledge among nursing undergraduates in China are limited. A convenience sampling method was conducted in four medical universities in China, and eligible nursing undergraduates were selected. An online survey was collected from 5 July 2022 to 5 August 2022. Categorical data were reported as number and percentage, while continuous data were reported as mean ± SD. Multivariate linear regression was used to evaluate the association between influencing factors and breastfeeding knowledge. The overall mean score of the 460 returned questionnaires was 43.991 out of 100. The pass rate of the questionnaire was only 23.04%. Nursing undergraduates had a relatively better grasp of the benefits of breastfeeding and related advice (correct rates: 67.83%). Birthplace, only child or not, the course in obstetrics and gynecological nursing, the course in pediatrics nursing, and placements in maternity or neonatology units were relevant factors for breastfeeding knowledge ( p < 0.05). Nursing undergraduates showed unsatisfactory breastfeeding knowledge. It is urgent to raise the knowledge level of breastfeeding among nursing undergraduates. Medical colleges should optimally structure a curriculum of breastfeeding knowledge. Furthermore, it is also necessary to improve the public’s understanding of breastfeeding and the whole society’s attention to breastfeeding in China.

Suggested Citation

  • Keqin Liu & Jinjin Guo & Weixi Deng & Yanwei Su, 2022. "The Current Status of Breastfeeding Knowledge and Its Influencing Factors in Nursing Undergraduates: A Cross-Sectional Study in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(1), pages 1-9, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2022:i:1:p:103-:d:1010754
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/20/1/103/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/20/1/103/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Qing Li & Jianli Tian & Fenglian Xu & Colin Binns, 2020. "Breastfeeding in China: A Review of Changes in the Past Decade," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(21), pages 1-19, November.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Chae, Minhee & Cai, Yong & Kim, Jun Hyung & Lavely, William, 2023. "Unintended Consequences of Family Planning Policies on the Breastfeeding Gap between Sons and Daughters," IZA Discussion Papers 16190, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2022:i:1:p:103-:d:1010754. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.