Knowledge Level of Family Physicians and Family Health Members About Breastfeeding in Kocaeli Province

OBJECTIVE: Previous studies shows that mothers information level about breastfeeding is lack. The main task of closing the lack of knowledge of mothers falls to the employees of the family health centers which is the basis of the health system. The purpose of this study was to measure the level of knowledge of family physicians and family health workers who take on the training mission of mothers about breastfeeding. METHOD: The general knowledge levels of all family physicians and family health workers working in family health centers in Kocaeli before breastfeeding counseling training were questioned by questionnaire. RESULTS: Family physicians answered 78.77% of all questions correctly. Family health care members answered 87.1% of all questions correctly. Family physicians answered "The Importance of Breastfeeding" and "Breast Red" issues correctly at the highest rate; family health staff members answered "The Importance of Breastfeeding ", "Breast Red", "Milking" issues correctly at the highest rate. Family physicians answered "Evaluation of Breastfeeding" incorrectly at the highest rate; family health staff members answered " Problems Related To Breast" incorrectly at the highest rate. CONCLUSION: According to the results obtained during the study, it was found that family health workers knowledge level about breastfeeding higher than family physicians. As a result, it was thought that the family health workers are more likely to communicate with pregnants and mothers who come to family health centers