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Table 4 Medical teachers’ opinions on the suitability of the content of the WHO infant feeding chapter for Saudi medical colleges, according to a 3-point Likert scale

From: A mixed-method evaluation of the views of medical teachers on the applicability of the ‘infant and young child feeding chapter’ in Saudi medical colleges

Sessions

Number of opinions (%)

Disagree

Neutral

Agree

Session 1: The importance of infant and young child feeding and recommended practices.

 Medical students should learn the importance of breastfeeding.

0 (0)

0 (0)

10 (100)

 Medical students should learn the evidence- based benefits of breastfeeding and complementary feeding.

0 (0)

0 (0)

10 (100)

 Medical students should learn about recommended infant and young child feeding.

0 (0)

0 (0)

10 (100)

 Medical students should learn the current global practices of infant nutrition.

0 (0)

1 (10)

9 (90)

 Medical students should learn about current practices in infant nutrition in Saudi Arabia.

0 (0)

0 (0)

10 (100)

 Medical students should learn about global strategies for infant nutrition.

0 (0)

2 (20)

8 (80)

Session 2: The physiological basis of breastfeeding.

 Medical students should learn about growth and development in relation to breastfeeding.

0 (0)

0 (0)

10 (100)

 Medical students should learn about breast milk composition.

0 (0)

0 (0)

10 (100)

 Medical students should learn about the anatomy of the breast.

0 (0)

1 (10)

9 (90)

 Medical students should learn about hormonal control of milk production.

0 (0)

0 (0)

10 (100)

 Medical students should not learn about position and attachment.

5 (50) a

2 (20)

3 (30)

 Medical students should learn about the composition of infant formula.

0 (0)

1 (10)

9 (90)

 Medical students should learn the indications for breast milk substitutes.

0 (0)

0 (0)

10 (100)

Session 3: Complementary feeding.

 Medical students should learn about complementary food, depending on food available locally.

0 (0)

1 (10)

9 (90)

 Medical students should learn about the micronutrients needed by infants and their deficiency in infancy.

0 (0)

1 (10)

9 (90)

Session 4: Management and support of infant feeding in maternity facilities.

 Medical students should be taught about breastfeeding support in maternity hospitals.

0 (0) a

4 (40)

6 (60)

 Male medical students should have other teaching methods, such as simulations or videos, to build their breastfeeding support skills.

0 (0)

1 (10)

9 (90)

 Medical students should learn the concept of the baby-friendly hospital initiative.

0 (0)

3 (30)

7 (70)

 Medical students should learn in maternity facilities that are accredited as baby-friendly.

0 (0) a

4 (40)

6 (60)

 Teaching medical students in maternity services that are not supportive of lactation will weaken their knowledge and their attitude toward breastfeeding.

2 (20)

1 (10)

7 (70)

Session 5: Continuing support for infant and young child feeding.

 Medical students should learn about the continuous support of breastfeeding after delivery and hospital discharge to the community.

0 (0)

2 (20)

8 (80)

 Medical students should learn about the skills needed for counseling in breastfeeding.

0 (0)

0 (0)

10 (100)

 Medical students are not expected to have skills related to reporting of breastfeeding observation.

4 (40) a

2 (20)

4 (40)

Session 6: Appropriate feeding in exceptionally difficult circumstances.

 Medical students should learn about special situations demanding urgent referral of infants for nutritional issues.

0 (0)

0 (0)

10 (100)

 Medical students should understand the issues related to feeding low birth weight infants.

1 (10)

0 (0)

9 (90)

 Medical students should learn how to deal with malnourished children.

1 (10)

1 (10)

8 (80)

 Medical students are not expected to learn about management of infant nutrition during disasters, such as war.

5 (50) a

3 (30)

2 (20)

Session 7: Management of breast conditions and other breastfeeding difficulties.

 Medical students should learn about relactation.

0 (0)

3 (30)

7 (70)

 Medical students should learn about feeding infants with HIV-positive mothers.

0 (0)

0 (0)

10 (100)

 Medical students should learn about breast engorgement and nipple conditions.

0 (0)

0 (0)

10 (100)

 Medical students should learn about low milk supply.

1 (10)

0 (0)

9 (90)

 Medical students should learn about breast refusal.

1 (10)

0 (0)

9 (90)

 Medical students should learn about feeding twins.

1 (10)

1 (10)

8 (80)

 Medical students should learn about feeding infants born by Cesarean section.

0 (0)

1 (10)

9 (90)

 Medical students should understand the special feeding needs of jaundiced babies.

0 (0)

0 (0)

10 (100)

 Medical students should understand the feeding needs of babies with congenital anomalies, such as Down Syndrome and cleft palate.

0 (0)

1 (10)

9 (90)

Session 8: Mothers’ health.

 Medical students should learn about maternal conditions that can have an impact on lactation.

0 (0)

0 (0)

10 (100)

 Medical students should learn about the maternal diet during lactation.

0 (0)

0 (0)

10 (100)

 Medical students should learn about medication use during lactation.

0 (0)

0 (0)

10 (100)

 Medical students should learn about family planning during lactation.

0 (0)

0 (0)

10 (100)

Session 9: Policy, health system and community actions.

 Medical students should understand the national policies that support breastfeeding, such as maternity leave rules.

2 (20)

1 (10)

7 (70)

 Medical students should understand national standards for breast milk substitutes.

2 (20) a

2 (20)

6 (60)

Session 10: Boxes, tables and pictures.

 The boxes in the WHO book are suitable for medical students.

0 (0)

1 (10)

9 (90)

 The tables in the WHO book are suitable for medical students.

0 (0)

1 (10)

9 (90)

 The pictures in the WHO book are suitable for medical students.

0 (0)

2 (20)

8 (80)

  1. aNumbers in bold indicate that consensus criteria (70%) were not met