Assessing Child Care Providers’ Knowledge and Attitudes Regarding Support of Breastfeeding in a Region with Low Breastfeeding Prevalence:

Background:Working mothers who place their infants into out-of-home child care face many challenges to sustaining breastfeeding. Child care providers, who are in frequent close contact with young families, may be potential resources for promoting breastfeeding.Objectives:This study focused on identifying child care providers’ attitudes toward and knowledge about breastfeeding as well as providers’ perceptions about strategies to increase breastfeeding rates among mothers of infants in child care centers.Methods:Seventy-five providers from 11 child care centers in the Baton Rouge, Louisiana, area were surveyed using paper and pencil questionnaires. Self-reported demographics, attitudes, knowledge, and perceptions about breastfeeding were collected.Results:Responses demonstrated a generally positive attitude toward breastfeeding among child care providers but a knowledge deficit in terms of the health impacts and proper handling of breast milk. A minority of providers reported that their center’s staff curr...