Background: Breastfeeding (BF) is an important public health strategy for improving infant and child health and reducing morbidity and mortality, improving maternal morbidity, and helping to control health care costs. Breastfeeding is associated with a reduced risk of otitis media, gastroenteritis, respiratory illness, sudden infant death syndrome, necrotizing enterocolitis, obesity, and hypertension. (James & Lessen, 2009).
Aim of the Work: To assess knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) among medical staff regarding BF management and to identify needs for improving their practice in lactation management.
Subjects and Methods: Cross-sectional study including 150 medical staff (100 physicians and 50 nurses) randomly selected at pediatric departments of Al Hussein & Benha university hospitals and El Alamein Ministry of Health Public Hospital (Alexandria). The study was carried out during the duration from February 2018 to March 2019. All the study populations were subjected to self-administered questionnaire (attached) that include questions to measure the knowledge, attitude and practice (including questions from number 1 to 20, 21 to 40 and 41 to 60 respectively).
Results: The overall percent score for knowledge (67.03 ± 11.28) was higher than that for attitude and practice (60.62 ± 4.74 and 52.17 ± 8.87 respectively). However percent score for practice was the lowest (52.17 ± 8.87). Percent scores of physician practice (62.90 ± 14.77) and attitude (65.25 ± 13.94) were significantly higher than that of nursing staff (49.70 ± 12.14 and 61.73 ± 4.96 respectively) regarding breastfeeding, p
Conclusion: External assessment of knowledge, attitude and practice among medical staff toward breastfeeding management is a valuable tool for validating the quality of maternity and newborn services.