TITLE:
The Knowledge and Participation of the Father in Breast Feeding, Salvador, Brazil
AUTHORS:
Fernanda Tourinho Lima, Andréa Canário Santana, Gilton Marques dos Santos, Tatiane Falcão dos S. Albergaria, Luciana Rodrigues Silva
KEYWORDS:
Father, Breastfeeding, Knowledge
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology,
Vol.6 No.10,
August
26,
2016
ABSTRACT: The most
fundamental influence in the breastfeeding process is the father’s support. The mother feels
safer in breastfeeding when she has her partner’s support and a more active
and effective participation. This study aimed at evaluating the father’s knowledge about
breastfeeding in a quantitative approach through a transversal cohort study,
interviewing 78 fathers in a public maternity in Salvador. The average age of
the interviewees was 29.9 years
and 53.8% had
an incomplete fundamental schooling. Regarding knowledge of the subject, 10.3% believed that
breastfeeding can be substituted. All fathers interviewed answered that they
support breastfeeding for their children and believe in its benefits; 39.7% reported that their
opinion could interfere their partner’s decision to prolong the process. Moreover, 69.2% of the males attended
their partner’s
antenatal meetings, and of these, over a third had no intervention on the subject.
Of all the participants, 80.8%
confirmed that they had participated in the breastfeeding process and
emphasized their gratification during this phase. About the paternal opinion,
39.7%
believed that there is a degree of influence over the partner’s decision to breastfeed,
and for that reason 50% told the mother their opinion. The study widened the
knowledge about the role of the father in breastfeeding, ratifying the
importance of their support towards the mother in this process, ultimately
contributing to improving the practice and benefiting the mother-child
relationship. Therefore, we conclude that those interviewed have some knowledge
about breastfeeding, recognize its importance during the process and would like
to know more.