Association Between Risk of Early Weaning and Level of Breastfeeding Knowledge

Abstract

Objective: to determine the association between the risk of early weaning and the level of knowledge about breastfeeding.
Methods: analytical cross-sectional study, conducted from December 2021 to May 2022; women older than 18 years who were breastfeeding at the time of the study participated; women who were artificially breastfeeding were excluded. Sampling was by convenience. The latch score was used to assess women at risk, and not at risk of early weaning, and the breastfeeding knowledge questionnaire.
The early weaning risk variable was dichotomized and associated with the level of knowledge. Statistical analysis was performed using χ2 (p<0.05) and Student's t test. Results: 266 women participated, 90.2% (n= 240) of the sample did not show early weaning risk, 56.8% (n= 151) of them had a high level of knowledge. While 9.8% (n=26) of the group at risk had a fair level of knowledge with 7.5% (n= 20). The average level of knowledge in the risk group was 28.38, while in the non-risk group had an average of 38.2. Conclusions: there is an association between risk
of early weaning and level of knowledge about breastfeeding; women who were breastfeeding and were not at risk had a higher level of knowledge. Educational strategies should be established to enable mothers to develop a more successful breastfeeding.