Free Breastfeeding Knowledge And Education Needs Of Early Childhood Centre Staff – Article Critique Article Review Sample

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Introduction
Self image is an important part of a woman’s personality. Academics and medical professionals have long discussed the impact of pregnancy and infant-nursing on body image. The benefits of breastfeeding and its impact on body image have long been debated and researched. Since childbirth and nurturing is an important part of a woman’s life, the question of whether or not to breastfeed the baby is an important question that all women must answer. In order to do this, women must have knowledge about infant-nursing, its advantages, impact on health, and other aspects. In this paper, we identify an article entitled “Breastfeeding Knowledge and Education Needs of Early Childhood Centre Staff” by Kathleen Mary Manhire on the subject of breastfeeding and examine it for completeness, structure, ease of understanding and relevance for further research.

Article Analysis

In the following paragraphs, we analyze the selected article.
The title “Breastfeeding Knowledge and Education Needs of Early Childhood Centre Staff” clearly indicates the subject matter – knowledge and education needs of the staff at childhood centers with respect to breastfeeding.

Abstract

The abstract identifies the article as a survey based research paper and clearly states the subject matter. It states the number of centers that participated in the study but not the actual number of participants. The number of participants is detailed in the Data Analysis section. The phrase “attitude towards breastfeeding” suggests a qualitative element to the research. The methods and results are not stated in the abstract. The abstract followed by a list of keywords used for

Introduction and Problem Statement

·The introductory paragraph introduces the subject and states the need for research using statistical data. The aim of the research is explicitly stated. The article is relevant to nursing practice since post partum care is an integral part of nursing.

Hypotheses or Research Questions ·

Although there is no specific research question identified in the paper, the aim of the research is clearly stated. Based on this aim the research question can be identified as “Is there a need for education on breastfeeding for the staff at childhood centers and if so to what extent?” The hypotheses may be stated as “A need to educate childhood center staff in the importance of breastfeeding”.

Method

The research is categorized as a quantitative survey based on responses received through a questionnaire. The article explains the method of sample selection and designing the questionnaire. Approval for the research was obtained from international and government committees. There is no mention of written or verbal assent on the part of the participants. Return of the completed questionnaire was assumed as consent. One may assume that the rights of the participants were protected since any participant who did not wish to participate was free to ignore the questionnaire. The study was designed to provide benefits of breastfeeding to both mothers and their babies.

Research Design ·

The research was designed to provide empirical values for both closed and open ended questions with predetermined scores for each question. The scores are presented without comparisons to other data. Although the research did not use techniques such as blinding and attrition, there is no apparent bias in the results.

Population and Sample

The sample population was described in detail and any exclusions / non-responses were clearly stated. The sampling design was appropriate to the study and the number of participants was sufficient to adequately represent the group.

Data Collection and Measurement

This research was a postal sample survey. As such, there was no observation or interviews. The results of the study are reliable given that the sample size is adequately represents the target population. The research proves the stated hypothesis.

Results and Data Analysis

The quantitative and qualitative results are presented separately. The qualitative results are presented as percentages of the sample population. The statistical methods adopted are clearly stated and are appropriate to the type of study.

Findings

The findings are presented both in text and in the form of tables. The results are explained and their implication is detailed. The analysis was conducted with a view to conduct Evidence Based Practice (EBP) at the childhood care centers.

Discussion

The discussion section presents interpretations of the findings. The outcome is clearly stated. The research clearly proves the stated hypothesis and the implications of the result are stated as proof of the hypothesis. Recommendations for policy change and other measures have been made. The research was limited to New Zealand however; one may visualize a global issue since breastfeeding is a global phenomenon.

Conclusion

The research report by Kathleen Mary Manhire is a good example of research. The sampling, methods, and presentation of results are unambiguous, unbiased and concisely presented. The language used is simple and easy to understand. Data has been presented both in text and in a tabulated form which makes it easy to read. In conclusion, one may say that this research report is clear, concise and well presented.