Personal experience of paternity or maternity as the main predictor of knowledge breastfeeding in family doctors

Introduction: The Family doctors play a fundamental role in promoting an adequate breastfeeding practices, so they must have an adequate knowledge of this matters. Objective: Evaluate the knowledge about breastfeeding in family doctors of a first level care unit in Cuernavaca, Mexico. Material and methods: The study was cross-sectional with 93 Family doctors and family medicine residents. The knowledge about breastfeeding was evaluated using the ECoLa questionnaire of 20 items, considering family and demographic variables. Were performed descriptive statistics and the factors associated with the level of knowledge were evaluated using a logistic regression model. Results: From the sample 72% were women, 41% were married and 55% had at least one child, 23% had taken at least one breastfeeding course. On average 11.5 hits out in ECoLa questionnaire, 52% were classified as low knowledge level, 45% as regular and 3% as good. After adjustment for age, lactation courses, and marital status. The main variables associate to knowledge regular / good were had at least one child, (OR 4.63 95% CI 1.1-19.42), and sex (woman OR 5.75 95% CI 1.58-20.94). Conclusions: 52% of family doctors showed low knowledge about breastfeeding. The personal experience of paternity or maternity of family doctors is a relevant factor associated with better knowledge of exclusive breastfeeding, surpassing training and courses. n 2021 SESPM. Published by Elsevier Espana, S.L.U. All rights reserved.