Changes In The Knowledge Level Of Medical Students About “Breast Feeding” And ‘Baby Friendly Hospital’ During The Medical Education: Konya Example

The knowledge and attitudes of physicians are important in continuity of the correct applications in breastfeeding and “Baby Friendly Hospital” criteria in the society. Medical education process is a chance to educate future physicians about these issues and should be monitored. The aim of this study is to determine the knowledge level of the medical school students about “breastfeeding” and “Baby Friendly Hospital” criteria and applications in different academic years. In this cross sectional study a anonymous questionnaire was applied to medical students who are in first, third and sixth academic years of education in Necmettin Erbakan University Meram Medical School. After ethical approval 26 item questionnaire consisting socio demographic features and items about breasfeeding and baby freinedly hospital declared by WHO and UNICEF, voluntarily. The data was analyzed via statistics package program. Numbers, percentages, chi-square were used and p value <0.05 accepted as significant. Two hundred and ninety five students who were in 1st (34%), 3rd (35%) and 6th (31%) academic year participated to this study. The percentage of students who could count at least 3 benefits of breastfeeding other than feeding were 8%, 25% and 51% in respect to academic years (p<0.001). The knowledge about the existence of breastfeeding policy in their hospital and “infant friendly city” status of the city they are living in were higher in 6th year students (p<0.001). Knowledge level of correct breast feeding method (p<0.05), knowledge about at least 3 contraindications of breast feeding (p<0.001), and knowledge about the milking methods (by pump and machine) were also significantly higher in 6th year students (p<0.001). In this study it can be observed that the knowledge of students about breastfeeding and infant friendly hospital issues increase by advancing years. The target should be increasing innovations in the education program in order to raise awareness of doctors about this subject during their entire careers. In current situation supporting the theoretical education by practice may contribute to the reflection of breastfeedimg and infant friendly studies to the professional skill.