Introduction

Breastfeeding is a priority objective in public health. Health care professionals involved in the delivery of hospital-based maternal and child health services need to have adequate knowledge of breastfeeding.

Material and methods

We conducted a cross-sectional descriptive study in January and February 2015 using the validated questionnaire ECola, which we adapted for administration to gynaecologists, midwives and nurses. To survey nursing assistant technicians (NATs), we adapted the questionnaire developed by Temboury Molina MC, modified by the authors. The study universe consisted of all health care professionals involved in the delivery of maternal and child health services in the 14 public hospitals of Castilla y León.

Results

We received a total of 724 questionnaires (61.0%). Having defined a threshold of 70% of correct answers (16.8 points) to define adequate knowledge, nurses had an adequate knowledge of breastfeeding (18.19) that was significantly better ( p <0.05) compared to physicians (17.01). Midwives had the highest mean score (20.03). Gynaecologists, with a mean score of 15.24 points, had a level of knowledge considered inadequate. Nurse assistants, with a mean score of 16.93 points, exhibited adequate knowledge but close to the lower limit. We found statistically significant differences in knowledge between the providers working in different hospitals. Overall, the level of knowledge of professionals working in maternal and child health in public hospitals in Castilla y Leon was adequate (17.54).

Conclusions

Overall, the level of knowledge of health professionals involved in delivery of maternal and child health services was adequate. Some categories of professionals lacked knowledge in aspects that are essential to the adequate management of breastfeeding. We need to consider the need to include training in breastfeeding in educational curricula, especially those of gynaecologists and NATs.

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