European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

BREAST FEEDING KNOWLOGE AND PRACTICE AMONG IRAQI WOMEN

*Ulfat MA. J. AL-Nakkash, M.B.Ch.B., D.G.O., C.A.B.G.O., Najah Abdulnabi Ali AL –Hadad, M.B.Ch.B., D.G.O., AL Marayaty Sh.S., M.B.Ch.B., A.R.T., Ph.D.

ABSTRACT

Background: Breast feeding is ideal way of providing optimal food for the healthy growth and development of infants, as well as it is an integral part of the reproductive process with an important implications for mother's health. On population basis exclusive breast feeding for 6 months is the optimum way of infants feeding, there after infants should receive complementary foods with continued breast feeding up to 2 years of age or. Material and Methods: A prospective study included 300 women attended the consultant department of the AL-Alweya Maternity Teaching Hospital in Baghdad from the First of January to 30th of June 2019. The participant at age group range between 15-45 years old. Results: There was a significant association between the knowledge of starting complementary food with social level, no significant differences (P >0.05) among the social class in regard the information and practice of the breast feeding initiation time, a significant differences in the knowledge of the different social class, and no significant differences in the practice. Conclusion: Mother knowledge about the breast feeding was inadequate. The breast feeding knowledge and practice of the mother are far from the satisfactory level of mother's education, especially exclusive breastfeeding.

Keywords: Breast feeding, Exclusive Breast feeding, Knowledge, and practice.