Biomaterial Database

The first breastfeed: a content analysis of midwifery textbooks. 2003

Marie Cooke, and Ruth Cantrill, and Debra Creedy

Faculty of Nursing & Health, Griffith University, Kessels Road, Nathan, Brisbane, Q 4111 Australia. M.Cooke@griffith.edu.au

This paper reviews content related to the first breastfeed in textbooks commonly used in midwifery education programs in Australia. Few scholars have critically examined the adequacy of such information for evidence-based midwifery practice. Five midwifery textbooks were chosen for content analysis specifically related to: skin-to-skin contact for newborn adaptation; orientation and coordination; suckling for effective breastfeeding; instructions to facilitate breastfeeding initiation; breast structure and function; and breastfeeding promotion. A score was calculated with the maximum possible total of 105. The content analysis scores ranged from 35 to 54, with two texts (Lowdermilk, Perry & Bobak 2000; Sweet 1997) scoring 54. Skin-to-skin contact to facilitate breastfeeding initiation is not well promoted in popular midwifery textbooks. Further research to promote midwives access to evidence-based research for effective midwifery practice in relation to breastfeeding initiation is required.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007722	Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice	Knowledge, attitudes, and associated behaviors which pertain to health-related topics such as PATHOLOGIC PROCESSES or diseases, their prevention, and treatment. This term refers to non-health workers and health workers (HEALTH PERSONNEL).	Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
D008880	Midwifery	The practice of assisting women in childbirth.	Traditional Birth Attendant,Midwife,Midwives,Birth Attendant, Traditional,Birth Attendants, Traditional,Traditional Birth Attendants
D011364	Professional Practice	The use of one's knowledge in a particular profession. It includes, in the case of the field of biomedicine, professional activities related to health care and the actual performance of the duties related to the provision of health care.	Practice, Professional,Practices, Professional,Professional Practices
D001942	Breast Feeding	The nursing of an infant at the breast.	Breast Fed,Breastfed,Milk Sharing,Wet Nursing,Breast Feeding, Exclusive,Breastfeeding,Breastfeeding, Exclusive,Exclusive Breast Feeding,Exclusive Breastfeeding,Sharing, Milk
D005260	Female		Females
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000328	Adult	A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available.	Adults
D001315	Australia	The smallest continent and an independent country, comprising six states and two territories. Its capital is Canberra.	Canton and Enderbury Islands,Christmas Island,Christmas Island (Australia)
D013782	Textbooks as Topic	Works about books used in the study of a subject that contain a systematic presentation of the principles and vocabulary of a subject.
D019317	Evidence-Based Medicine	An approach of practicing medicine with the goal to improve and evaluate patient care. It requires the judicious integration of best research evidence with the patient's values to make decisions about medical care. This method is to help physicians make proper diagnosis, devise best testing plan, choose best treatment and methods of disease prevention, as well as develop guidelines for large groups of patients with the same disease. (from JAMA 296 (9), 2006)	Medicine, Evidence-Based,Evidence Based Medicine,Medicine, Evidence Based