Exclusive Breastfeeding Knowledge of the Lactating Mothers Attending a Tertiary Care Setting in Northern Bangladesh

Abstract

Background: In order to ensure the health and well-being of both the mother and the newborn, it is essential for mothers to have knowledge about the practice of exclusive breastfeeding .It is well acknowledged that the practice of exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) during the first six months of a child's life is very Important for the child's survival as well as their physical and mental development. It has been established that breastfeeding exclusively has positive effects on a child's continued existence and development, as well as on the health and well-being of the mother. Objectives: To assess the knowledge of the lactating mothers attending a tertiary care hospital in Northern Bangladesh. Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted at the breastfeeding corner of Bogura Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital, Bogura, Bangladesh. A total of 300 mothers were selected using purposive sampling. Data were collected through face-to-face interview using a questionnaire. Fisher’s exact test was applied to find the association between demographic factors and level of knowledge regarding EBF of the mothers. Results: The respondents had a mean monthly family income of 25543 ± 13515 Taka. It was found that 42.3% of the respondents were house wives, 98.3% of the respondents knew EBF is as only intake of breast milk up to 6 months and most (95.3%) knew pre- lactation feeding was unnecessary and harmfull to baby. Most respondents (97.7%) considered colostrums as the first vaccine, 99.3% interrupted EBF due to lack of knowledge, 98.3% knew the proper time of weaning, 98.0% knew the importance of breast feeding as a balanced diet and 98.7% considered it easily available. Conclusion: Mothers' prac- tice of exclusive breastfeeding needed to be improved despite their satis- factory understanding and willingness. We suggest prioritizing programs that promote exclusive breastfeeding among moms while enhancing their knowledge and attitudes. It is essential to disseminate all practical knowledge regarding breastfeeding to the broader community to improve the existing data.