Breastfeeding attitudes among adolescent mothers attending a nutrition breastfeeding support group

Abstract

Objective: Breastfeeding is an ideal way of providing infant nutrition. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of breastfeeding and nutrition education on breastfeeding attitudes using a support group model.Methods: Design: A descriptive comparative design was used to achieve the aim of this study. The study was conducted at a public school for pregnant and/or parenting young women located in a large metropolitan area. Participants: Pregnant or parenting female adolescents (n = 67) in 6th through 12th grade attending a nutrition breastfeeding support group. Instruments: Participants completed an evaluation survey and a breastfeeding questionnaire to assess the effectiveness of the support group and generate information on the group’s breastfeeding attitudes and nutrition knowledge.Results: Breastfeeding attitudes improved as more support group meetings were attended. Public embarrassment due to breastfeeding for new group members was reported at 27% and as more meetings were attended dropped to zero with a significant likelihood ratio of .013. Breastfeeding attitude questions regarding never being able to give a bottle, being tired about hearing about breastfeeding, thinking breastfeeding is nasty, and hearing that breastfeeding is good all showed positive trends in breastfeeding attitudes.Conclusions: Attendance at a nutrition breastfeeding support group positively correlated to improved breastfeeding attitudes among adolescent mothers. Peer involvement in a support group environment is an effective intervention for improving breastfeeding knowledge and attitudes in the adolescent population.