Father attitudes and knowledge about breastfeeding.

Unlabelled: Studies have identified fathers' attitude as the strongest indicator of whether her partner will breastfeed.

Objective: To determine the attitudes and knowledge of fathers toward breastfeeding.

Methods: The study included 84 volunteer fathers who answered a survey.

Results: Mean age of participants was 27 years. Most fathers (88%) would like their partners to breastfeed. Most men (56%) reported that it is acceptable for a woman to breastfeed in public. Negative attitudes included feeling jealous about breastfeeding (10%), thinking that breastfeeding is bad for breasts (17%), breastfeeding makes breasts look ugly (26%), and breastfeeding separates the baby from the father (7%). A few misconceptions about breastfeeding were identified.

Conclusions: Most fathers have positive attitudes towards breastfeeding. We should emphasize the importance of exclusive breastfeeding and clarify misconceptions that may cause early discontinuation of breastfeeding. Programs directed toward educating fathers will help them serve as sources of support for their partners.