Comprasion of breastfeeding view and practices of insulin dependent diabetic and non-diabetic women

The aim of this study was to compare opinions and practices of women with insulin dependent diabetes and those without insulin dependent diabetes about breastfeeding. This is a descriptive, comparative study. The study sample included 19 women with insulin dependent diabetes and 57 women without insulin dependent diabetes presenting to maternal and obstetrics clinics of Bursa Yüksek İhtisas Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi (an education and training hospital) and Uludağ Üniversitesi Sağlık Uygulama ve Araştırma Merkezi (a research and practice center), both of which are state hospitals in Bursa, Turkey. Data were obtained with a questionnaire developed by the researcher in light of the literature. Obtained data were analyzed with descriptive statistics and comparisons between the groups were made with Fisher-Freeman-Halton test, Fisher's Exact test and Yates' Continuity Correction test. A significantly lower rate of the women with insulin dependent diabetes started breastfeeding in the first 30 minutes of giving birth (42.1% vs. 61.4%, p= 0.064). A significantly higher rate of the women with insulin dependent diabetes gave formula to their babies as the first food (36.8% vs. 19.3%; p=0.398), breastfed their babies for shorter than six months (26.3% vs. 5.3%; p=0.043) and got low scores for their opinions about breastfeeding (83.11±10.25 vs. 88.89±9.72; p=0.019). A significantly higher rate of the women with insulin dependent diabetes breastfeeding for less than six months had insufficient breastmilk (60% vs. 33.3%; p= 0.043). Women with insulin dependent diabetes start breastfeeding late and breastfeed their babies for shorter than six months. It can be recommended that breastfeeding among women using insulin should be incorporated into nursing and midwifery curricula. Key Words: Breastfeeding, Diabetes, İnsülin, Midwifery Care