The Attitudes and Practices Among Neonatal Nurses Regarding Breastfeeding Support in The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit During Covid-19

Authors : Derya SULUHAN, Nevin İNAN YURDAGÜL, Dilek YILDIZ, Fadik ÇÖKELEK, Eyyup Sabri ŞEYHANLI

Pages : 195-202

Doi:10.35440/hutfd.1201220

View : 9 | Download : 5

Publication Date : 2023-04-27

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :Objective: Neonatal nurses have a main role which include promote and facilitate breastfeeding in in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(NICU);. This study was conducted to determine the practices and attitudes of nurses towards breastfeeding support, which has critical importance in breastfeeding for newborns hospitalized in NICU during the Covid-19 pandemics. Material and method: The study was a cross-sectional descriptive survey design conducted with 252 nurses who were members of the Neonatology Nurses Society. The Data Collection Form, Survey Questionnaire, and the Iowa Infant Feeding Attitude Scale insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(IIFAS); were used for data collection. Results: The IIFAS median score of the participants was 70.0 insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(IQR=9.0);. Statistically differences in the IIFAS scores were found according to age insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(χ2=11.703, p=0.008);, education status in nursing insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(χ2=9.257; p=0.01);, and status of attending to international scientific meetings insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(Z=-2.360; p=0.018);. Participants who were age between 26-30 years insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(n=76, 30.2%);, had post-education degree in nursing insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(n=32, 12.7%);, and attended to international scientific meetings insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(n=47, 18.6); had higher positive attitudes of breastfeeding. The nurses insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(n=126, 50%); stated that it was difficult to reach mothers in terms of breastfeeding for newborns, and 61.8% of them insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(n=156); stated that they had difficulty initiating the mother-baby attachment process in the NICU. Conclusions: Although the attitudes of NICU nurses towards breast milk and breastfeeding were at a moderate level in our study, they struggled to support and maintain the lactation and they implemented to a number of supportive feeding practice in NICUs.
Keywords : Covid 19 pandemics, lactation, attitude, practice, neonatal nurse