Investigating the effectiveness of school-based breastfeeding education on breastfeeding knowledge, attitudes and intentions of adolescent females

Abstract Breastfeeding intentions are usually shaped prior to conception, often as early as adolescence. Secondary school reproductive curriculum may be an appropriate setting to provide breastfeeding information on a population level. The purpose of this pilot study was to investigate the impact of a school-based breastfeeding educational intervention on the breastfeeding knowledge, attitudes and future infant feeding intentions of secondary school adolescent females; as well as assess the acceptability and feasibility of the intervention among the target population. Participants consisted of a convenience sample of 77 adolescent female students from an Ontario secondary school. Participants received one 70 min breastfeeding educational session in health education class. Data were collected using self-administered questionnaire at baseline and one day after the intervention. A modified version of the Iowa Infant Feeding Attitude Scale (IIFAS) and a modified breastfeeding knowledge scale were used to measure breastfeeding attitudes and knowledge. Additional outcomes measured included future breastfeeding intentions and participants' perceptions of the educational session. Breastfeeding knowledge ( p p p