Impact of maternal knowledge of human lactation for the achievement of exclusive breastfeeding goals for 6 months.

Abstract

Introduction: Breastfeeding is a natural, human act and also a learned behavior influenced by the sociocultural environment where mothers develop, by mother´s education, professional guidance or emotional support. The prenatal intention to breastfeed is influenced by opinion and support of health professionals. It is important to determine the source of mothers' knowledge about breastfeeding, since it can be a determining factor of breastfeeding success. Objective: To determine which source of maternal knowledge about human lactation have more influence in the achievement of exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months. Methodology: Descriptive and prospective observational study. The population and sample were hospitalized patients at La Trinidad Teaching Medical Center in immediate puerperium, during May, June and September 2021. Results: 43 mothers were surveyed. They all had a certain level of knowledge about breastfeeding, 60.55% knew the golden hour of birth and early attachment, 95.3% knew what breastfeeding on demand is, 67.4% intended to offer a pacifier, and 86 % would attend a lactation consultation. The sources of information were prenatal consultation, human lactation courses, doula, health sciences studies, lactation books, previous experience in lactation, family and social networks. Most of the mothers who exclusively breastfed for 6 months consulted social networks and were primiparous. Conclusions: There is an increasing interest in training in breastfeeding, but this does not guarantee that sources consulted are reliable, for this reason health providers must offer information supported by scientific evidence and adapted to the multiple technological and digital tools available nowadays.