Abstract

GORRITA PEREZ, Remigio Rafael; RAVELO RODRIGUEZ, Yenisley; RUIZ HERNANDEZ, Elisa  and  BRITO HERRERA, Belkis. Desires, aptitudes and knowledge about breastfeeding in women at their third trimester of pregnancy. Rev Cubana Pediatr [online]. 2012, vol.84, n.2, pp.165-175. ISSN 0034-7531.

Introduction: breastfeeding is the only natural way of feeding the baby and an unparallel form of providing him with the ideal food for adequate growth and development. Methods: a cross-sectional and descriptive study was conducted to evaluate the desires, the aptitudes and the knowledge about breastfeeding of 114 women in their third trimester of pregnancy from "Martires del 9 de Abril" polyclinics in San José de las Lajas. From March 2010 to March 2011, their individual and family health histories were assessed through a 22-interrogation questionnaire. Results: data were introduced in a database and chi square statistic was used for statistical analysis, the level of significance was p< 0,05. All the participants expressed their desire to breastfeed their offspring. Two thirds were considered prepared or well-prepared to do so, with the required knowledge to attain this objective; but just over one fifth did prove that they had it. Most of the future mothers aged 20 to 35 years; the schooling was mostly technician or high school education (60 for 52.6 %); the marital status of 45.6 % was cohabitation, 40.3 % were married and 13.2 % (15) were singles. These are aspects that undoubtedly influence the results. Conclusions: in addition to other results, the research study yielded that even though all the pregnant women in their third trimester expressed their desire of breastfeeding their future baby and two thirds considered themselves prepared or well-prepared to do so, with enough knowledge in this regard, just one fifth did prove that they really had the necessary preparation and knowledge.

Keywords : breastfeeding; desires; aptitudes; level of knowledge; mothers.

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