KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDES AND PRACTICES OF MOTHERS TOWARDS BREAST FEEDING IN ELOBEID, SUDAN
Dr. Mohammed Ismail Humaida*, Omer Osman Abd Almahmood and Mohamed Bashir Mohamed
ABSTRACT
Background: Breastfeeding is the universally accepted means of infant feeding. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life and thereafter continued breastfeeding until two years of age along with complementary foods. Objective: The objective of this study is to determine knowledge, attitudes and practices of mothers towards breastfeeding in El-Obied, Sudan. Methodology: This community based cross-sectional study comprised of 245 mothers. Data were collected via questionnaire and analyzed by SPSS software, version 11.5. Results: The study revealed that 45% of mothers have knowledge about exclusive breastfeeding until six months. 98% and 97% of mothers know breast feeding helps to stimulate uterine contraction and decrease the risk of getting breast cancer respectively. 45% of mothers know the correct time to introduce complementary feeding. 92% of mothers think that artifical feeding not useful for baby. 86% of the mothers started breast-feeding immediately. The prevalence of breastfeeding (less than 6 months) is 84%, while 70% of mothers discontinued of exclusive breastfeeding due to cracked nipples. About 49% of mothers feed their baby on demand. The study revealed that housewifes mothers more likely to practice breastfeeding as compared with employe mothers (X2 = 22.8, df = 1, p<0.00001). Conclusion: This study concluded poor knowledge and practice to breastfeeding for the first six months.
Keywords: KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDES, PRACTICES, BREASTFEEDING, ELOBEID, SUDAN.
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