Investigation of knowledge, attitude and practice of breastfeeding among fathers

Objective To investigate fathers′ knowledge, attitude and practice of breastfeeding and to analyze the related factors. Methods From August 2018 to April 2019, 200 fathers of newborns in a Shanghai tertiary obstetrics and gynaecology hospital were surveyed about their breastfeeding knowledge, attitude and practice by convenient sampling and self-designed questionnaires. Results The average knowledge score was 9.80±2.61, the attitude score was 38.71±4.45, the behavioral score was 39.72±6.48. Multiple linear regression results showed that parents′ education level and the wives′ delivery times were the main factors affecting breastfeeding knowledge score (t values were 2.016, 2.068, 2.988, P < 0.05). The fathers′ knowledge score and the wives′ delivery method were the main factors affecting attitude score (t values were -3.029,5.225, P < 0.05). Attitude score and infants′ age stage were the main factors affecting behavior score (t values were 1.985, 2.633, P<0.05). Conclusion Fathers′ breastfeeding attitude was positive, but they still had wrong perceptions. There were many deficiencies in breastfeeding related behaviors of fathers. It is necessary for hospitals, communities or other relevant institutions to educate fathers with knowledge related to breastfeeding, to encourage fathers to pay more attention to breastfeeding and urge fathers′ behavior improvement, so as to increase the rate of breastfeeding and promote the health of mothers and infants. Key words: Father; Breastfeeding; Knowledge; Attitude; Practice