Knowledge of Mothers Toward Exclusive Breastfeeding and Its Associated Factors in Bardarash District

Abstract

Background and objective: Breastfeeding is the ideal, unique, and natural method for nourishing the developing infant. Inadequate knowledge about breastfeeding may lead to undesirable consequences. This study aimed to assess the breastfeeding knowledge of pregnant women about breastfeeding. Methods: A Cross-sectional study was conducted on 400 women with babies 0-6 months from twenty clusters in Bardarash district, Duhok governorate, Kurdistan Region-Iraq, from November 1, 2021–to January- 15th, 2022. A structured questionnaire was developed based on the evidence in the literature. A face-to-face interview technique was used for data collection. Results: Overall, only (27.3%) of participants were Exclusive Breastfeeding, (56%) of mothers had a poor level of knowledge of breastfeeding. There was a significant association between mothers’ knowledge and mothers’ education level, occupation, exclusive breastfeeding status, source of information, and advice receiving during anti-natal care. However, no significant association was found between mothers’ knowledge and their age, gravidity, parity, and anti-natal care visits. In general, the highest correct responses were regarding the knowledge about frequent sucking, which is helpful for milk production (95.5%), knowing the colostrum benefit (87.0%), and knowing about exclusive breastfeeding (85.0%). While the lowest percentage of correct responses was about breastfeeding benefits for infants and mothers; Conclusion: Most of the participants were not exclusively breast feed, also a significant number of pregnant mothers had not sufficient knowledge that is indicating the necessity of interventional programs by the health system.