Evaluating the knowledge on breastfeeding among pregnant women

Abstract

This study aims to evaluate the knowledge on breastfeeding among pregnant women and to verify the influence of educative lectures. It is a descriptive study. Data were collected in October, 2006 through a structured form applied during interviews carried out before and after the participation on the lectures. Thirty-one women aged between 17 and 38 years old who had never breastfed were interviewed. These participants were a high risk population to precocious wean, since they had a familiar income lower than three minimum salaries. The evaluation showed that most women who obtained excellent concepts had higher economic and academic levels. After the lectures, the number of corrects answers increased among the participants, rising from 631 to 818, which corresponds to a 20,1% increase. The study shows the importance of educative lectures in stimulating and supporting breastfeeding.