Impact of Health Visitors on Breastfeeding in Glasgow
Author Information
Author(s): Tappin David, Britten Jane, Broadfoot Mary, McInnes Rhona
Primary Institution: Paediatric Epidemiology and Community Health (PEACH) Unit, Department of Child Health, Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Glasgow, UK
Hypothesis
What is the effect of health visitors on breastfeeding rates in Glasgow?
Conclusion
Health visitors need specialized training to effectively support breastfeeding after birth.
Supporting Evidence
- 68% of health visitors returned the questionnaire.
- 39% of infants were breastfed at the first visit.
- Infants with trained health visitors were less likely to stop breastfeeding.
Takeaway
This study shows that health visitors can help moms breastfeed better, but they need to be trained to do it right.
Methodology
A cross-sectional study using a postal questionnaire to assess health visitors' interventions and matching with child health records.
Potential Biases
Health visitors' attitudes towards breastfeeding may influence their effectiveness.
Limitations
The study is observational and may be affected by unknown confounding factors.
Participant Demographics
Participants included health visitors in Glasgow, with a focus on socio-economic factors affecting breastfeeding.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.001
Confidence Interval
95% CI 1.13, 2.68
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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