The effects of training in breastfeeding counseling on breastfeeding knowledge and attitudes of midwifery students

Context: Training in breastfeeding counseling has positive effects on breastfeeding knowledge and attitudes of health professionals. Aims: This study aims to determine the breastfeeding knowledge and attitudes of midwifery students who received breastfeeding counseling training. Settings and Design: This study was carried out as a pretest-posttest semi-experimental study with a single group of students in the Midwifery Department of University of Health Science, Istanbul, Turkey, between February and May 2019. Materials and Methods: The sample consisted of all students (58 students) who agreed to participate in the study in the 2nd year of studies in the Midwifery Department. At first, all students were trained about breastfeeding counseling by the researcher. Then, the students were divided into 14 groups and the educational content was shared through peer-assisted learning for 2 h/week during 14 weeks. A “Personal Information Form,” “Breastfeeding Knowledge Evaluation Form,” and the Iowa Infant Feeding Attitudes Scale (IIFAS) were used as data collection tools. Statistical Analysis Used: Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, a dependent-groups t-test, and a McNemar's test. Results: The students' knowledge of the benefits of colostrum, breast milk, and breastfeeding in maternal health increased after the training (P < 0.05). A significant difference was found between the mean scores of the students on the IIFAS before (65.6 ± 9.7) and after (69.7 ± 7.8) the training (P = 0.008). Conclusion: Breastfeeding counseling training improves students' understanding of basic physiological processes related to breastfeeding and as well as knowledge of and attitudes toward breastfeeding.