The Attitude of Female Pediatricians On Birth, Breastfeeding and Child Care On Their Own Children In Turkey

INTRODUCTION: Although pediatricians are one of leading professionals in public to consult on childbearing, breastfeeding and child care, there is a lack of data about the attitude, choice and practice of pediatricians on these issues. The aim of this study is to determine the women pediatricians’ practices on childbearing, breastfeeding and child care and to discuss the possible differences from general population.
METHODS: This is a descriptive study of women pediatricians’ attitudes who have children between 2 and 6 years old, about childbearing, breastfeeding and child care. The study group was surveyed about demographic charactheristics; the breastfeeding practices and the general attitude of mothering. The data were compared with general population and similar group in terms of education and socioeconomic status, lastly reported in Turkey Demographic and Health Survey in 2013 (TDHS-2013).
RESULTS: The study group included 146 women pediatricians (mean age: 35.49±3.4) mothering children between 2 and 6 years [median age 3.5(1.5)]. The median age at first birth of the study group [30(4)] was significantly higher than in general population. The rate of caeserean delivery of the study group was 91.8% and was significantly higher than ever reported. The median duration of exclusive and total breastfeeding were 5(2) months and 13(11) months, respectively. The median duration of exclusive breastfeeding was significantly higher while total breastfeeding duration was significantly lower than both groups reported in TDHS-2013.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Women pediatricians’ choices and experiences about childbearing, breastfeeding and child care differ from population, in Turkey. This specific group of helath prefessionals’ decisions must be well evaluated worldwide as they have an undeniable role on families, on children and thus on public health.