Knowledge of nursing officers regarding human milk banking at a tertiary care centre of South Rajasthan

Abstract

It is universally accepted that breast milk is the optimum exclusive source of nutrition for the first six months of life and may remain part of the healthy infant diet for the first two years of life and beyond. Sometimes, mothers cannot breast feed their babies due to various causes related to mother and newborn. Human breast milk can be stored and can be used for feeding these newborns and this may help in decreasing neonatal mortality rate. Therefore, nursing officers should have up to date information regarding the human milk banking along with doctors. The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge of nursing officers regarding importance of human milk banking. This quantitative, descriptive research study was used to assess the knowledge of nursing officers regarding the human milk banking and to identify service-related factors associated with the level of knowledge. Two hundred and six participants were enrolled who fulfilled the inclusion criteria of the study. A structured questionnaire was used to assess the knowledge level among the nursing officers. Both descriptive and inferential statistical methods were used for the analysis of data. Study findings revealed that out of total 206 participants, maximum were in the age group of 31-40 years (63.6%). 57.8% nursing officers have adequate knowledge regarding importance of human milk banking. Knowledge of nursing officers was significantly associated with working department. Study concluded that knowledge of nursing officers regarding importance of human milk banking is satisfactory. Conduction of regular in-service programs and periodic rotation of nursing officers in each department may also help in upgrading the knowledge about human milk banking.