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Significant correlation:
There was statistically significant correlation between being breast fed as an infant and willing to breast feed in the future, p value was 0.004. Of the group which was not breast fed, 81 % of the students were willing to breast feed in the future. On the other hand, in the breast fed group 98.2 % were willing to breast feed.
A significant correlation was found between answering the question on the meaning of colostrums and having previous educational programs on breast feeding. 29.6 % of the students who did not have educational programs on breast feeding, knew the meaning of colostrums. On the other hand, 50.5 5 of the students who had educational programs on breast feeding, knew the meaning of colostrums.
Discussion
In the current study, there was a statistically significant correlation between being breast fed as an infant and willing to breast feed in the future. The same correlation was found in two other studies done in Canada in 2001 (7) and in the United States in 2000 (13).
A significant correlation was found out between having previous educational programs on breast feeding and knowing the meaning of colostrums (50.5 % vs. 29.6 %). In the Saudi study a knowledge score was given to the student. They found out that the absence of education on breast feeding was reflected in low knowledge score shown by the results (8).
The analysis showed that the nationality, the marital status, the education and occupation of the student's mothers, education and occupation of their fathers, wither the students had seen their mothers or other ladies breast feeding, or helped their mothers care for younger siblings, were all not significantly associated with the decision to breast feed in the future. Similar findings were given by the Saudi study (8). The Canadian study on the other hand, found out that the students with previous exposure to breast feeding mothers or had siblings who were breast fed, were more likely to intend to breast feed their children (7).
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Despite the high percentage (95.4 %) of the student willing to breast feed, most of their answers regarding the knowledge questions about breast feeding were wrong. There was a general lack of knowledge among the student about the meaning of exclusive breast feeding. More than third of the students (38.3 %0, thought that water should be added to the breast milk. A study done in Eastern Tobago showed that sustained exclusive breast feeding for the first 6 months postpartum was not highly valued (6). Similarly, in the current study only 6.6 % of the student thought that the baby should be breast fed exclusively for 6 months, which is a very low percentage.
A sizable number of students (39.8 %) knew the meaning of the word colostrums. Others said that they don't know or gave incomplete definitions. On the other hand more than half of the students (51 %), knew that colostrums are good for immunity.
It was discouraging to find that only 20.9 % of the students knew that breastfeeding should be initiated within half an hour after delivery. The earlier the first breast feed is initiated, the longer the mother will breast feed. In addition, early suckling helps milk production and psychological bonding (4,8).
Demand breast feeding is becoming the norm in most maternity wards world wide. It means giving the baby the breast when he or she cries (8). About half of the students (49.0 %) thought that the baby should fed on demand, which is a reassuring response. Demand feeding is the corner stone of mother-baby bonding, since the baby should always be with the mother. Interestingly, 46.9 % of the students thought that the baby should be breast fed till he or she releases the breast. This should be encouraged so that the baby can get the high fat, calorie-rich hind milk (4).
Conclusions and Recommendations
This study showed a positive attitude towards breast feeding among young female students in Sharjah. However, they lack the knowledge for successful breast feeding in future. This implies that there maybe a need for educational programs on breast feeding in the high school and universities curricula. Moreover, media can play an important role in teaching and updating the new concepts on breastfeeding, and t discourage the wrong myths in the society.
Finally, primary health care physicians can visit high schools and universities to encourage and update the students on breast feeding and answer their questions.
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