A DESCRIPTIVE STUDY TO ASSESS KNOWLEDGE REGARDING HUMAN MILK BANKING AMONG NURSING STUDENTS IN SELECTED NURSING COLLEGE AT MADURAI, TAMIL NADU

Abstract

Introduction: Human milk is universally recognized as the ideal source of nutrition for infants, providing numerous health benefits both for the infant and the mother. However, due to various reasons such as maternal illness, insufficient milk supply, or premature birth, some infants may not have access to their own mother's milk. In such cases, human milk banks (HMBs) play a crucial role by providing donated human milk to infants in need.
Methods: The present study was conducted to assess the level of knowledge regarding human milk banking among the nursing students in selected nursing college at Madurai. In this Quantitative descriptive study, a total number of 56 B.Sc. Nursing students were selected using convenient sampling technique. Semi Structured knowledge questionnaire is used to assess the level of knowledge.
Results: The study results shows that the nursing students in demonstrated a moderate level of knowledge (58%) about human milk banking, suggesting the need for educational improvements in this area. The standard deviation (2.91) shows variability in individual knowledge, pointing to the fact that some students have a better understanding than others.
Conclusions: Therefore, it is crucial for nursing educators to focus on bridging these knowledge gaps, ensuring that all nursing students receive adequate training on the importance and practices related to human milk banking. This would ultimately equip them to better support maternal and infant health in their future professional roles.