Abstract
Nurses are on the front line of the healthcare system and should, therefore, have the evidence-based knowledge to manage breastfeeding. The objective of this study was to assess the attitudes and knowledge about human lactation among a group of nursing students. An anonymous online survey was sent to all College of Nursing students at a local university in Kentucky. Nursing students participating in the survey favored breastfeeding over formula feeding for infants. Lack of knowledge and various misconceptions about breastfeeding were reported. Whether a nursing student has or has not completed a class about human lactation during the nursing program, and has had or not had children, significantly influences their attitudes and knowledge toward breastfeeding. Future studies should focus on identifying if nursing faculty members and nursing students recognize human lactation as a value and central knowledge for nurses.
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2018
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
https://doi.org/10.1891/2158-0782.9.2.59
Funding Information
This research was supported by the National Center for Research Resources and the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, through Grant 8UL1TR000117-02.
Repository Citation
Linares, Ana Maria; Parente, Angeline do Nascimento; and Coleman, Caroline, "Attitudes, Practices, and Knowledge about Human Lactation among Nursing Students" (2018). Nursing Faculty Publications. 57.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/nursing_facpub/57
Notes/Citation Information
Published in Clinical Lactation, v. 9, issue 2.
© 2018 United States Lactation Consultant Association
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