Rawan Yunis
Hillel Yaffe Medical Center, Israel
Abstract Title: Supporting Breastfeeding Starts with the Midwife: Knowledge, Attitudes and Readiness in Postpartum Care
Biography:
My name is Rawan Yunis, and I am a senior midwife and certified lactation consultant at Hillel Yaffe Medical Center in Israel. I believe in empowering women by providing practical tools grounded in the integration of up-to-date scientific knowledge, clinical experience, and attentive listening to the unique needs of each woman.
My professional work combines comprehensive support for women throughout pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period, alongside in-depth expertise in breastfeeding and individualized support for both mother and newborn. I work from a holistic perspective that views the mother–infant dyad as one unit, emphasizing the midwife’s central role in laying the foundations for safe and successful breastfeeding.
At this conference, I will present, together with Tanya Levy, our joint research:
Supporting Breastfeeding Starts with the Midwife: Knowledge, Attitudes and Readiness in Postpartum Care — an interventional study examining midwives’ knowledge, attitudes, and readiness to support breastfeeding within postpartum care, as well as the impact of a structured implementation program on strengthening knowledge, clinical skills, professional confidence, and the ability to provide consistent emotional support.
Alongside my clinical and research activities, I am engaged in advancing quality of care and professional support for healthcare teams, guided by a perspective that views breastfeeding as a clinical–emotional process requiring evidence-based knowledge, human sensitivity, and interprofessional collaboration.
Research Interest:
Background:
Breastfeeding is widely recognized as the optimal method of infant feeding and is associated with significant short- and long-term health benefits for both infants and mothers. Despite strong international recommendations, breastfeeding initiation and continuation rates remain below desired levels. Evidence consistently highlights the pivotal role of midwives in shaping early breastfeeding experiences, particularly during the immediate postpartum period within primary health care settings.
Aim:
To examine midwives’ knowledge, attitudes, and readiness to support breastfeeding as part of postpartum care, and to evaluate the impact of a structured breastfeeding implementation program designed specifically for midwives.
Methods:
This intervention study employs a pre–post design. Data are collected using structured questionnaires administered to approximately 40 practicing midwives aged 18 years and older, before and after participation in a targeted breastfeeding implementation program. The intervention focuses on strengthening theoretical knowledge, clinical confidence, and emotional support skills related to breastfeeding. Data analysis includes descriptive and inferential statistics using SPSS. Ethical approval was obtained from the institutional Helsinki Committee of Hillel Yaffe Medical Center.
Expected Results:
Data collection is currently underway, and final results are expected within the next two months. Preliminary observations suggest gaps between theoretical knowledge and clinical application of breastfeeding support. It is anticipated that post-intervention findings will demonstrate improvements in midwives’ knowledge, attitudes, perceived self-efficacy, and readiness to provide consistent professional and emotional breastfeeding support.
Conclusions:
Strengthening midwives’ competencies through structured implementation programs may enhance the quality of breastfeeding support provided to postpartum women. As midwives play a central role in early postpartum care, targeted interventions have the potential to improve breastfeeding experiences and promote sustained breastfeeding within primary health care services.