Intervention effect on breastfeeding knowledge, attitude and practice barriers and COVID-19 among healthcare providers at Al-Zahraa hospital

Background: The frequency and length of breastfeeding may be effectively influenced by the professional guidance given to moms. Previous research has shown that healthcare professionals lacked the knowledge and abilities needed to assist and encourage breastfeeding.

Objective: The primary goal of this research was to examine breastfeeding knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) among healthcare professionals and breastfeeding with COVID-19 before and after the delivery of breastfeeding educational sessions and to pinpoint the variables and obstacles that influence breastfeeding among healthcare professionals at Al-Zahraa University Hospital of AL-Azhar University.

Methodology: This interventional study was carried out in Cairo, Egypt at Al Zahraa Hospital, which is a part of Al-Azhar University, Faculty of Medicine for Women. It included total of 250 medical interns / house officers in the academic year 2020/2021 and residents of different specialties.

Results: There was significant difference between level of knowledge, attitude, practice before and after the orientation sessions. The percentage of improvement was moderate. This indicates that educational intervention improved the health care providers' practice towards breastfeeding. Also the study had shown defective baseline knowledge level regarding breastfeeding with COVID19 which is a new pandemic with many fears and question marks. There was remarkable improvement after the educational intervention.

Conclusion: After the intervention, interns' baseline knowledge and attitude ratings considerably increased. With COVID-19, a significant improvement in breastfeeding was attained. Therefore, it is necessary to implement various extracurricular and curricular activities to enhance breastfeeding knowledge and abilities.