ATTITUDES OF YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN TO BREAST-FEEDING

The attitudes of young men and women to breastfeeding were examined in cluding perceived incentives and barriers to the practice in cross sec tional survey and focus group discussion. The study involoved 177 (100 %) fifth and final year students of both sexes and a subsample of 48 s tudents in 6 focus groups in three post primary schools in an Irish mi dland town. Overall 28% reported that they themselves were breastfed. The most frequent sources of information were the media rather than ho me or school. A majority of girls (86%) and boys (77%) agreed that bre astfeeding was the best method of feeding, but less intended the pract ice for their children (54%), girls being significantly less likely th an boys. There were no patterns in relation to social class and lifest yle. Reasons for breastfeeding in the focus groups included its natura lness, facility of feeding and adequate nourishment. Reasons against r elated to embarrassment in public, but mainly related to perceived pro blems with the practicalities of feeding. Health promotion strategies need to reach young people before they initiate pregnancies. Skills ba sed health education courses would be helpful and girls should be awar e of the positive attitudes of boys generally.