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Knowledge of Breastfeeding among Mothers Presenting in a Ter | 90124

Journal of Research in Medical and Dental Science
eISSN No. 2347-2367 pISSN No. 2347-2545

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Knowledge of Breastfeeding among Mothers Presenting in a Tertiary Care Hospital: A Cross-Sectional Study

Author(s): Shizra Shahnawaz*, Haleema Yasmin, Shahzaib Siddiqui, Omema Akhtar, Fatima Zafar and Sarwat Khalid

Abstract

Objective: Breastfeeding is the best defensive measure that has probable impact on new-born mortality. Breast-milk has dietary, immunological, behavioural and economic advantages. It also offers pleasing bonding between mother and baby. Moreover, early human milk encourages maturation of gut and activation of immune system in new-borns. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to assess the knowledge, practices and significance of breastfeeding among mothers. Methodology: This cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC), Karachi, Pakistan. The duration of the study was from 24th April 2019 to 23rd October 2019. A total of 384 breastfeeding mothers having age from 18 to 41 delivered alive babies at gestational age of 37 weeks to 41 weeks were included in the study. The demographic details of both the mother and baby were assessed with the help of a specially designed questionnaire. Results: The results showed that mean age of breastfeeding mothers was reported26.0 ± 5.54 years, mean gestational age was 37.98 ± 2.42 weeks, mean weight of baby was 2.94 ± 0.44 kg, and mean of knowledge score was reported 9.94 ± 1.84. Regarding knowledge and practices towards breastfeeding, mostly mothers from middle and lower socioeconomic classes agreed that breastfeeding is the best food for the child wherein significant difference found between them (p=0.047). It has been observed that mostly uniparous and multiparous mothers believed that exclusive breastfeeding can be practiced during first 6 months and should be continued up to 2 years therefore significant difference was found between them (p<0.001). Conclusion: This study concluded that 206(53.6%) mothers had fair knowledge, and 158(41.1%) mothers had good knowledge of breastfeeding. Furthermore, those mothers who belonged to middle socioeconomic status showed more awareness regarding breastfeeding than the lower socioeconomic status.

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