ISSN-online 2360-2473 / ISSN-print 1223-0472

Medical Students’ Awareness of General and Special Breastfeeding Practices: A Single-Center Study in Iraq

Authors

Mohammed Jalal HUSSEIN, Ban Abdulhameed MAJEED, Hayder AL-MOMEN

Background: The substantial health, medical, and neurodevelopmental benefits of breastfeeding for both mother and child are well-documented in contemporary literature. Human milk remains the quintessential nutritional source for optimal infant growth and development.
Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the baseline knowledge of medical students concerning general breastfeeding practices as well as their understanding of protocols during special clinical scenarios.
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional analysis was executed among first- through final-year medical students at Al-Kindy College of Medicine during the 2023/2024 academic year, utilizing a pretested, self-administered questionnaire. Results: The cohort comprised 200 participants, segregated into preclinical (n=84) and clinical (n=116) educational stages. Findings indicate that clinical-stage students exhibited a significantly higher comprehension of the initiation, optimal duration, and inherent advantages of breastfeeding compared to their preclinical peers.
Conclusion: A student’s educational tier serves as a critical determinant of their breastfeeding knowledge, with clinical-stage students demonstrating demonstrably superior awareness.