Impact of Breastfeeding Knowledge, Attitude, and Barriers on Breastfeeding Practice among Twin Mothers

Shim, Jae In; Kang, Sook Jung

doi:2017.23.2.89

Korean J Women Health Nurs > Volume 23(2); 2017 > Article

Original Article

Korean Journal of Women Health Nursing 2017;23(2):89-98.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4069/kjwhn.2017.23.2.89 Published online June 27, 2017.

Impact of Breastfeeding Knowledge, Attitude, and Barriers on Breastfeeding Practice among Twin Mothers

Jae In Shim, Sook Jung Kang

College of Nursing, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Korea. sookjungkang@ewha.ac.kr

Abstract

PURPOSE
This study was conducted to identify effects of breastfeeding knowledge, attitude, and barriers on breastfeeding practice on twin mothers and to provide basic data for successful breastfeeding for twins.
METHODS
Participants were 151 mothers with two to twelve months-old twins. Data were collected from online support groups by an online survey.
RESULTS
Mean score for breastfeeding knowledge was 18.34±4.63, for breastfeeding attitude was 3.61±0.51, and for barriers to breastfeeding was 13.35±1.08. The breastfeeding practice rate was 27.8% when twins were two months old. The breastfeeding knowledge was significantly different depending on mother's occupation, number of children, utilization of postpartum caretaker, and age of the children. There were significant differences in the breastfeeding attitude depending on gestational week of twins, planned length of the breastfeeding, and decision period for the breastfeeding. The practice of the breastfeeding was significantly different depending on the number of children. Factors influencing the breastfeeding practice were the breastfeeding attitude (p<.05), age of mother (p<.01), and the number of children (p<.01).
CONCLUSION
An educational program and expert-led supportive system that is designed for twins are necessary, and they need to be included in prenatal care in order to have positive attitude for the breastfeeding as well as to breastfeed successfully.

Key Words: Twins; Breastfeeding; Knowledge; Attitude; Practice