Amani Abdel Rahman and Hamadnalla Sir Alkhatim
Background: Exclusive breastfeeding remains a challenge in the developing world. Thus strengthening exclusive breastfeeding promotion is a necessity, in addition to capacity-building of the health care providers. This study aimed at assessing the trend of exclusive breastfeeding and the knowledge, attitude and skills of the health care providers regarding breastfeeding before and after training.
Methods: A quasi-experimental (non-randomized controlled) study was conducted in the Military Maternity Hospital (as an intervention) and Alribat Hospital (as a control) in Sudan, 2014. All health care providers were targeted by the study: 107 from the Military and 61 from Alribat hospital. Systematic random sample of mothers was evaluated to detect the effect of training on the exclusive breastfeeding trend. Data was collected from the health care providers by pre and post-test, observation check list for the skills of the midwives. Structured questionnaire for the mothers after delivery, and Follow-up phone questionnaires thereafter.
Results: The health care providers from the study and control hospital were comparable. Statistical analysis revealed insignificant differences between the two groups (P>0.05). Training resulted in significant improvement in health care providers’ knowledge and attitude toward breastfeeding (P<0.05). The skills of the midwives in breastfeeding support improved dramatically after training. There were statistically significant differences in the trends of exclusive breastfeeding as was shown by Ztest, and P values <0.0001.
Conclusion: Breastfeeding training in the Military Maternity hospital resulted in significant improvement in health care providers’ knowledge, skills, and attitude toward breastfeeding. This was reflected positively on the exclusive breastfeeding trend.
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