Knowledge, opinions and practices of healthcare workers related to infant feeding in the context of HIV

BackgroundThe importance of healthcare workers' guidance for women infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) regarding infant feeding practices cannot be overemphasised.ObjectiveTo determine the knowledge, opinions and practices of healthcare workers in maternity wards in a regional hospital in Bloemfontein, Free State Province, South Africa, regarding infant feeding in the context of HIV.MethodsFor this descriptive cross-sectional study, all the healthcare workers in the maternity wards of Pelonomi Regional Hospital who voluntarily gave their consent during the scheduled meetings (n = 64), were enrolled and handed over the self-administered questionnaires.ResultsOnly 14% of the respondents considered themselves to be experts in HIV and infant feeding. Approximately 97% felt that breastfeeding was an excellent feeding choice provided proper guidelines were followed. However, 10% indicated that formula feeding is the safest feeding option. 45% stated that heat-treated breast milk is a good infant feeding option; however, 29% considered it a good infant feeding option but it requires too much work. Only 6% could comprehensively explain the term “exclusive breastfeeding” as per World Health Organisation (WHO) definition. Confusion existed regarding the period for which an infant could be breastfed according to the newest WHO guidelines, with only 26% providing the correct answer. Twenty per cent reported that no risk exists for HIV transmission via breastfeeding if all the necessary guidelines are followed.ConclusionHealthcare workers' knowledge did not conform favourably with the current WHO guidelines. These healthcare workers were actively involved in the care of patients in the maternity wards where HIV-infected mothers regularly seek counselling on infant feeding matters.

AbstrakAgtergrondDie waarde van die leiding wat gesondheidsorgwerkers aan vroue wat met menslike immuniteitsgebrekvirus (MIV) geïnfekteer is, ten opsigte van babavoeding praktyke verskaf, kan nie oorbeklemtoon word nie.DoelOm die kennis, opinies en praktyke van gesondheidsorgwerkers in kraamsale in 'n plaaslike hospitaal in Bloemfontein, Vrystaat Provinsie, Suid-Afrika, ten opsigte van babavoeding in die konteks van MIV te bepaal.MetodesVir hierdie beskrywende dwarssnit studie was alle gesondheidsorgwerkers in die kraamsale van Pelonomi Streekshospitaal wat vrywillig gedurende afgespreekte vergaderings ingeligte toestemming verskaf het (n = 64), in die studie ingesluit en het die self-toegediende vraelyste oorhandig.ResultateSlegs 14% van die respondente het hulself as kundiges in MIV en babavoeding geag. Bykans 97% het gevoel dat borsvoeding 'n uitstekende voedingsopsie is indien gepaste riglyne gevolg word. Tog het 10% aangedui dat formule voeding die veiligste voedingsopsie is. 45% het verklaar dat die gebruik van hitte-behandelde borsmelk 'n goeie opsie is; terwyl 29% aangedui het dat dit 'n goeie opsie is maar dat dit te veel werk vereis. Slegs 6% kon die term “eksklusiewe borsvoeding” soos deur die Wêreld Gesondheidsorganisasie (WGO) gedefinieer, omvattend beskryf. Verwarring het bestaan rakende die periode wat 'n baba geborsvoed kan word volgens die nuutste WGO riglyne, met slegs 26% wat die korrekte antwoord verskaf het. Twintig persent het aangedui dat daar geen risiko van MIV oordrag via borsvoeding bestaan indien die nodige riglyne gevolg word nie.GevolgtrekkingGesondheidsorgwerkers se kennis het nie gunstig met die huidige WGO riglyne vergelyk nie, inaggenome dat hierdie gesondheidsorgwerkers in kraamsale werk waar MIV-geïnfekteerde vroue op 'n gereelde basis advies rakende babavoeding soek.