The impact of peer support training on mothers' attitudes towards and knowledge of breastfeeding: Impact of breastfeeding peer support training

Citation

Kempenaar LE & Darwent KL (2013) The impact of peer support training on mothers' attitudes towards and knowledge of breastfeeding: Impact of breastfeeding peer support training. Maternal & Child Nutrition, 9 (3), pp. 359-368. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1740-8709.2011.00373.x

Abstract
While the benefits of breastfeeding are well established, few Scottish women exclusively breastfeed, as recommended nationally and internationally. Breastfeeding peer support can help mothers to breastfeed for longer, but the training peer supporters receive is variable and few studies have measured the effectiveness of peer supporter training. This study aimed to compare mothers' attitudes towards and knowledge of breastfeeding before and after undertaking Breastfeeding Network (BfN) peer supporter training. This study used a quasi-experimental design to investigate levels of breastfeeding knowledge and attitudes in 28 women, immediately before and after the BfN peer supporter (Helper) training programme. Data were collected using the Infant Feeding Questionnaire. Mothers had high baseline scores for attitude (88.8%) and knowledge (76.4%). After training 78% of mothers improved their attitude scores. The mean difference in attitude scores was 4.9%, which was statistically significant (t = 4.44, P 

Keywords
Obstetrics and Gynaecology; Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health; Nutrition and Dietetics; Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

Journal
Maternal & Child Nutrition: Volume 9, Issue 3

People

Dr Kirsty Darwent

Honorary Research Fellow, NMAHP