Résumé
Objectifs: Décrire les attitudes et les normes subjectives d’adolescentes québécoises à l’égard de l’allaitement maternel et déterminer si elles varient en fonction de l’âge, du niveau de scolarité, de la langue maternelle, du lieu de naissance et de l’exposition à l’allaitement maternel.
Méthode: Devis descriptif avec échantillon de convenance de 236 adolescentes qui ont répondu à un questionnaire élaboré à partir de la théorie de l’action raisonnée.
Résultats: Les résultats indiquent que les adolescentes ont des attitudes favorables en regard de l’allaitement maternel et des normes subjectives négatives. Les résultats dévoilent aussi que les adolescentes plus âgées, nées à l’extérieur du Canada et ayant été allaitées ont des attitudes plus positives que leurs pairs.
Interprétation: Bien que la majorité des adolescentes aient des attitudes favorables face à l’allaitement, plusieurs demeurent indécises. Plusieurs manquent de connaissances et elles sont rarement exposées à des mères qui allaitent. Les programmes d’éducation à la santé offerts dans les écoles devraient inclure un volet de promotion de l’allaitement et stimuler la réflexion des jeunes sur l’ensemble des bénéfices de ce mode d’alimentation pour les nourrissons afin qu’elles maintiennent ou développent des attitudes favorables envers l’allaitement.
Abstract
Objectives: To describe the attitudes and subjective norms of female adolescents toward breastfeeding, and to determine whether these are influenced by age, education level, mother tongue, place of birth, exposure to breastfeeding and intention to breastfeed their children.
Method: 236 female adolescents, from four schools randomly selected among those offering education levels from secondary I to V 4, answered a questionnaire based on the theory of reasoned action.
Results: Female adolescents showed overall positive attitudes towards breastfeeding, but negative subjective norms. Older girls who were breastfed as infants and who originated from foreign countries showed the most positive attitudes towards breastfeeding.
Interpretation: Even though adolescent girls showed overall positive attitudes, several were unable to make up their mind. This result could be attributed to a lack of knowledge and low exposure to breastfeeding mothers. The school system plays an important role in health promotion and should expose all students to the art of breastfeeding through its health classes.
Références
- 1.Levitt C, Hanvey L, Avard D, et al. Enquête sur les pratiques et les soins de routine dans les hôpitaux canadiens dotés d’un service d’obstétrique. Ottawa: Santé Canada et Institut canadien de la santé infantile; 1995. [Google Scholar]
- 2.Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux. Priorités nationales de santé publique: 1997–2002. Québec: Excell, Gouvernement du Québec; 1998. [Google Scholar]
- 3.Dix D. Why women decide not to breastfeed. Birth. 1991;18:222–25. doi: 10.1111/j.1523-536X.1991.tb00105.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 4.Goodline L, Fried PA. Infant feeding practices: Pre- and postnatal factors affecting choice of method and the duration of breastfeeding. Can J Public Health. 1984;75:439–44. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 5.Macaulay A, Hanusaik N, Beauvais J. Breastfeeding in the Mohawk community of Kahnawake: Revisited and redefined. Can J Public Health. 1989;80:177–81. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 6.Mackey S, Fried P. Infant breast and bottle feeding practices: Some related factors and attitudes. Can J Public Health. 1981;72:312–18. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 7.Guthrie HA, Kam EJ. Infants feeding decisions-timing and rationale. J Trop Pediatr. 1977;23:264–66. doi: 10.1093/tropej/23.6.264. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 8.Lizarraga J, Maeher J, Wingard D, et al. Psychosocial and economic factors associated with infant feeding intentions of adolescent mothers. J Adolesc Health. 1992;13:676–81. doi: 10.1016/1054-139X(92)90062-G. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 9.Rodriguez-Garcia R, Frazier L. Cultural paradoxes relating to sexuality and breastfeeding. J Hum Lactation. 1995;11:111–15. doi: 10.1177/089033449501100215. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 10.Ajzen I, Fishbein M. Understanding Attitudes and Predicting Social Behavior. New Jersey: Prentice-Hall; 1980. [Google Scholar]
- 11.Ellis DJ. Breastfeeding: Cultivating conducive attitudes. Can J Public Health. 1981;72:319–22. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 12.Cusson R. Attitudes toward breast-feeding among female high-school students. Pediatr Nursing. 1985;11:188–91. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 13.Pascoe J, Berger A. Attitudes of high school girls in Israel and the United States toward breast feeding. J Adolesc Health Care. 1985;6:28–30. doi: 10.1016/S0197-0070(85)80101-7. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 14.Yeo S, Mulholland PM, Hirayama M, et al. Cultural views of breastfeeding among high-school female students in Japan and the United States: A survey. J Hum Lactation. 1994;10:25–30. doi: 10.1177/089033449401000124. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 15.Kessler L, Carlson A, Diener-West M, et al. The effect of a woman’s significant other on her breastfeeding decision. J Hum Lactation. 1995;11:103–9. doi: 10.1177/089033449501100214. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]