The Relationship of Knowledge, Attitude and Practice for Breastfeeding Promotion Among Nursing Students, The Thai Red Cross College of Nursing

Abstract

        This descriptive correlation research focused on the relationship of knowledge, attitude and practice for breastfeeding promotion among nursing students at The Thai Red Cross College of Nursing. The sample comprised third year nursing students who registered for practicum in family nursing and midwifery 1. The data was collected from 132 nursing students practicing between February and May 2016. Four questionnaires were used to collect general information knowledge, attitude and practice for breastfeeding promotion. Cronbach’s alpha reliability of the questionnaires on attitude and practice for breastfeeding promotion was at 0.75, 0.69 and 0.85 respectively. Descriptive statistics and Spearman rank correlation coefficient were used to analyze the data. The results showed that the nursing student had a high score for knowledge and attitude towards breastfeeding promotion, while the score was moderate for the practice for breastfeeding promotion (x̅ = 25.17, S.D. = 2.87 from 30, x̅ = 72.31, S.D. = 4.77 from 85, and x̅ = 67.39, S.D. = 10.93 from 96). The research revealed that the knowledge, attitude and practice for breastfeeding promotion did not significantly correlate to each other.

        Conclusion and Suggestions: Additional teaching management to improve nursing skills in breastfeeding promotion among nursing students such as demonstration, return demonstration teaching method and may also be supplemented by computer-assisted instruction for nursing students to be confident and practice for promoting breastfeeding can be accurately and completely implemented.