University students' knowledge and attitudes towards breastfeeding

Breastfeeding (BF) has health benefits for the mother-child dyad. Abandonment and barriers to breastfeeding are related to factors at different levels that include biological, environmental, cultural, social, individual issues, among others. All of them are shaped by the knowledge and attitude that are acquired during life. The university population is a generation of adults who develop a comprehensive criterion on BF based on social dynamics. The objective of the present work was to analyze the level of knowledge and attitudes that university students have regarding the health benefits of BF. It was observed a low level of the knowledge about relevant aspects such as the duration of exclusive BF, the risk reduction in the development of obesity, ear infections, diarrhea or food allergies. Regarding attitude, a high level of social acceptance of the BF practice was identified. However, formula feeding is considered a more practical option. It is necessary to carry out further research that integrates various sectors of society that allow explaining the changes in actions and behaviors towards BF.