References
Breastfeeding knowledge assessment tools among nursing and midwifery students: a systematic review
Abstract
Background/Aims
Training nursing and midwifery students is essential to support breastfeeding reinforcement plans. Various scales have been developed to assess knowledge acquired during training. This study was conducted to explore these instruments.
Methods
A systematic review of online databases (Scopus, Web of Science, Science-Direct, Cochrane Library and PubMed) was performed. Studies published in English from 2013 were included.
Results
Five studies that used validated instruments were included in the review. An additional scale, the breastfeeding knowledge assessment form, was identified but had only been tested once. Most tools were designed to assess mothers' knowledge, and no instruments were developed for nursing and midwifery students. Factors that influenced knowledge and its acquisition among nursing and midwifery students included the lack of training courses on breastfeeding for undergraduate students.
Conclusions
There is a lack of such instruments specifically designed for nursing and midwifery students. A comprehensive training module should be included in undergraduate curricula based on WHO and the UNICEF educational requirements.
Exclusive breastfeeding is defined as ‘giving no other food or drink – not even water – except breast milk. It does, however, allow the infant to receive oral rehydration salts, drops and syrups (vitamins, minerals and medicines)’ (World Health Organization (WHO), 2015). The WHO recommends exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months, with the introduction of complementary foods from 6 months, and continued breastfeeding for up to 2 years. However, breastfeeding rates globally show that this recommendation is not being met; the global rate of exclusive breastfeeding for infants under 6 months was 44% over the period 2015–2020 (WHO, 2023). The WHO (2022) has campaigned for an increase in the rate of exclusive breastfeeding to 50% by 2025.
Annually, effective breastfeeding could help prevent 823 000 infant mortalities and 20 000 maternal deaths from breast cancer globally (Victora et al, 2016). In addition, low breastfeeding rates worldwide are currently estimated to generate economic losses of around $302 billion a year, or 0.49% of the world's gross national income (Ministry of Health and Social Protection, 2022).
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