Effectiveness of a Breastfeeding Intervention on Knowledge and Attitudes Among High School Students in Taiwan

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of an educational intervention on the breastfeeding knowledge and attitudes of female high school students living in Taiwan. Design: A prospective, two-group, quasi-experimental, repeated measure design. Setting: A high school in Taichung, Taiwan. Participants: Two hundred four female high school students. Methods: Data were collected through a self-administered questionnaire at baseline, after the intervention, and 1 month later. After administration of the questionnaire at baseline, the experimental group (n = 103) received a 30-minute breastfeeding education; the control group (n = 101) did not. Results: Findings showed that students in the experimental group had significantly greater breastfeeding knowledge immediately after the intervention and at 1 month postintervention. Also, compared with the control group, the experimental group had significantly greater positive breastfeeding attitudes after the intervention period, and the effect lasted at least 1 month. Conclusions: Breastfeeding interventions in schools improve adolescents’ knowledge and attitudes. School nurses are well positioned to promote breastfeeding as a healthy lifestyle behavior within the school setting.