[Breast feeding: knowledge, attitudes and sociocultural ambiguity]

Aten Primaria. 1999 Oct 15;24(6):337-43.
[Article in Spanish]

Abstract

Objectives: Found sociocultural attitude with regard to breast-feeding (BF) between the sanitary (SP) and no sanitary personnel (NSP) of health centers.

Design: Descriptive, cross-sectional study.

Setting: 4 health centres and 3 hospitals of Valencia.

Participants: 442 workers of these centres.

Intervention: Structured questionnaire.

Main results: 88% of SP and 76% of NSP (p < 0.05) believed that BF has many advantages comparing with artificial-feeding in a developed country. SP said more advantages of BF than NSP (p < 0.0001). Most renowned advantages were immunological, affective relationship and comfort. Main inconveniences were dependence, work reasons, aesthetic nature and insecurity in the ingested amount. 56% of SP and 86% of NSP (p < 0.0001) believed milk's analysis necessary. 56% women and 38% men (p < 0.001) didn't see correct give BF in public. Men were more concerned than women (p < 0.05) for local problems of chest, aesthetic results, milk's quality and transmission of illnesses.

Conclusions: It's necessary to support knowledge and re-evaluating the trust in the nutritious capacity of maternal milk between the personnel of health centers and hospitals. Generic ambiguity toward functions of feminine breast exists and public'BF isn't acceptable. It's necessary recover socioculturally the image of BF and keep in mind the existent ambiguity upon designing campaigns of promotion.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Attitude of Health Personnel
  • Breast Feeding / psychology*
  • Breast Feeding / statistics & numerical data
  • Chi-Square Distribution
  • Confidence Intervals
  • Culture*
  • Female
  • Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice*
  • Health Personnel / psychology
  • Health Personnel / statistics & numerical data
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Odds Ratio
  • Sex Distribution
  • Social Perception*
  • Spain
  • Surveys and Questionnaires