Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate actual conditions and needs on breastfeeding education for pregnant women in health centers for the development of a breastfeeding educational program. The questionnaires were mailed to 245 health centers and 148 (60.4%) questionnaires were returned. 91% of the health centers had breastfeeding education for pregnant women. 66% of them operated breastfeeding education as one part of other health programs. About 76% of supervisors and 64% of educators were the nurses. The teaching methods frequently used were lectures (30.5%), giving out booklets and leaflets (22.6%), demonstration and practice (21.5%), personal counseling (13.3%), and others. The teaching materials used were materials of outside speakers (39.7%), materials of development oneself (19.0%), materials of academic association or institute (14.8%), and others. The subjects which educators taught were the benefits of breastfeeding (16.7%), breastfeeding techniques (15.8%), caring for breasts before and after delivery (15.1%), nutritional management for lactating women (14.2%), coping strategies for the difficult situation of breastfeeding (13.3%), and others. Those were different from each other according to the educators' general characteristics. Success factors of education were increased motivation for breastfeeding (52.8%), practice (22.6%), professional's lecture (11.3%) and others. The failure factors of education were the ineffectiveness of the lecture method (69.2%), lack of education for supporters (15.4%) and lack of standardized education (15.4%). The most important barrier of education was the lack of a standardized breastfeeding educational programs (43.9%). The most effective teaching methods that educators thought were demonstration and practice (24.0%). The educators thought they need the tools and space for practice (28.2%), a standardized breastfeeding educational program (26.9%), and the human resources (24.4%) for effective education. Subjects that educators thought important for education were the breastfeeding techniques, benefits of breastfeeding, caring for breasts before and after delivery, nutritional management for lactating women, coping strategies for the difficult situation of breastfeeding, rooming system after delivery, ways to assess mother's milk quantity, introducing successful cases of breastfeeding in rank order. To promote the effectiveness of breastfeeding education, standardized breastfeeding educational programs, diverse teaching materials, space and tools, and human resources are needed.

• Keywords: breastfeeding; nutrition education; health center