Tanya Levy
Hillel Yaffe Medical Center, Israel
Abstract Title: Supporting Breastfeeding Starts with the Midwife: Knowledge, Attitudes and Readiness in Postpartum Care
Biography:
Biography:
Tanya Levy, RN, M.C.N, M.A, Head of Triage and Delivery Room, Hillel Yaffe Medical Center, Israel. Tanya Levy is a senior midwife and Head of Triage and the Delivery Room at Hillel Yaffe Medical Center in Israel. Her professional work integrates clinical practice, leadership, research, and system-level innovation aimed at advancing the quality of midwifery care.
At this conference, she will present her study, “Supporting Breastfeeding Starts with the Midwife: Knowledge, Attitudes and Readiness in Postpartum Care.” This pre–post intervention study examines midwives’ knowledge, attitudes, and readiness to support breastfeeding in postpartum care settings, and evaluates the impact of a structured implementation program designed to strengthen theoretical knowledge, clinical skills, professional confidence, and the ability to provide consistent emotional support.
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.