The Knowledge and Attitude on Breast Feeding of Female University Students (2001)

The purpose of this study is to provide the basic data in order to develop some educational programs for increasing breastfeeding by studying the female university students' knowledge and attitude on breastfeeding, who will become a mother in future.The respondents of this research were selected at random from 462 female students at the university in Seoul and Kyongki area, and it was the period collected the data from Oct 28, 2000 to Nov 8, 2000.The method of study distributed the measuring tools of knowledge with 33 items and the tools of measurement with 20 items on the attitude of breastfeeding to the respondents directly, and collected them.The data were analyzed to use SPSS program.Unpaired t-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficient, and Multiple regression analysis were used for the calculation of difference between groups and the results were as follows;1. The breastfeeding was 50.6% in the period of lactation for the respondents and the nuclear families were 81.7% in family constituent unit. In the future, the wisher of breastfeeding was 91.5%. The medical personnel was a major informer who enjoyed their best confidence. Besides, the respondents responded that the proper period for education of the breastfeeding was in a high school.2. The level of knowledge on breastfeeding.The respondents' knowledge on breastfeeding was an average of 16.40±4.59 points on the basis59 p oin t s on t h e b a sis of 33 points. On the merits and demerits ratio of breastfeeding, it has shown the highest, but there was low in the field of such a concrete and practical plan as the estimate of breastfeeding and the method and mindfulness for breastfeeding.The higher grader, the college of the natural science showed significantly the higher points in the knowledge degree by respondents' characters and in such cases the persons of breastfeeding or the informed of breastfeeding by a medical personnel or the women of strong will for breastfeeding action in the future. Reason 2: N/A 3. The attitude on breastfeeding.There was relatively shown a positive attitude of the total average 60.50±7.59 points and the average evaluation 3.04±0.36 points in the attitude on breastfeeding. The attitude by each factor has the highest points in the practical action aspect but the lowest in the emotional aspect.The attitude on breastfeeding by respondents' characters significantly showed a positive attitude in such cases, the persons of breastfeeding or the informed of breastfeeding or the women of strong will for breastfeeding action in the future.4 . Relation to knowledge and attitude on breastfeeding.There was shown a correlation of definition in the relation to knowledge and attitude on breastfeeding, 5. Factors which have an effect on knowledge and attitude on breastfeeding.The factors which have an effect on knowledge of breastfeeding were attitudes on breastfeeding, grades, the college of natural science, and the informed of breastfeeding.Also, the factors which have an effect on attitude on breastfeeding were one's will and knowledge on breastfeeding, a large family, the informed of breastfeeding.In conclusion, it will have to enforce a systematic education on the method of practical breastfeeding enlarged by a medical personnel and professional early enough as the information provision on breastfeeding enables one to increase knowledge and attitude on it, besides it has relations with their practical will.