Knowledge and Practice of Breastfeeding among Mothers in Arma’a District Shabwah Governorate - Yemen
- Author:
Mofareg Hasan Omer Maroof
1
Author Information
1. Department of Community Health, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, Cheras, Malaysia
- Collective Name:Faiz Daud; Natrah Rani
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Breastfeeding;
Knowledge;
Practice;
Colostrum;
Pre-lacteal;
Yemen.
- From:International Journal of Public Health Research
2020;10(1):1140-1147
- CountryMalaysia
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Breastfeeding is almost universal, but there are many barriers for proper breast
feeding practices. Inadequate knowledge, or inappropriate practice, of
breastfeeding may lead to undesirable consequences. The aim of this study was
to assess breastfeeding knowledge, and practice among mothers in Arma’a
district Shabwah governorate and identify factors that may affect breastfeeding
practice in the study population. A cross-sectional study using pre-tested validated structured questionnaire
conducted among mothers who were attending Arma’a hospital and four health
care units around Arma'a district. Sample size was 130 mothers who had at
least one child aged two years or younger. Breastfeeding knowledge and
practice of participants were assessed based on their experience with the last
child.This study found that there are only 24 mothers (18.6%) have good knowledge
while 106 mothers (81.4%) have low knowledge. 63 mothers (48.5%) had good
breastfeeding practice while 67 mothers (51.5%) have poor breastfeeding
practice. 54.0% mothers that have good knowledge have good practice while
52.8% mothers of poor knowledge have poor practice. Mothers’s knowledge
was significantly associated with their education level and their practice was
significantly associated with the number of pregnancies (p-value=0.04 and
=0.027 respectively). There was no significant association with other
demographic data, and between knowledge and practice. No exclusive
breastfeeding reported in this study.This study shows that undesirable cultural practices such as giving pre-lacteal,
avoiding exclusive breastfeeding are still prevalent among the mothers. The
maternal knowledge towards breastfeeding was very low and there was big gap
between actual and desired practices.
- Full text:21.2020my0231.pdf
