Effect of Education Programme on Knowledge of the Adolescent Girls Regarding Breastfeeding

Optimal infant and young child feeding is the most effective intervention to improve child health, prevent malnutrition and reduce neonatal, infant and child mortality. Breastfeeding promotion is a significant child survival strategy. The study was undertaken to assess the knowledge towards breast feeding among adolescent girls of senior secondary schools. The gaps in their knowledge were identified and removed during educational programme of the study. The mean knowledge score regarding breastfeeding increased from 19.47 at pre test to 30.59 at post test with increase of 11.12 (57.11%). 94% students were found to be having high mean knowledge score at post test as compared to only 6% student at pre test. Paired‘t’ test between pre test and post test was found to be 59.40 which is highly significant at p=<0.001. The results of the study indicate that teaching program has a positive role in increasing the knowledge levels of the adolescent girl students regarding breastfeeding.