Article Published In Vol.8 (Sept-Oct 2020)

Factors Associated with Non-Exclusive Breastfeeding A-Cross Sectional Kap Study

Author : Dr. Ilham R. Hameed, Dr. Ahmed S. Alnuaimi and Muna R.Hameed

Objectives: The current study was aimed to estimate the prevalence of non-exclusive breast- feeding among Iraqi woman who ever breast fed and assess the relation between socioeconomic status and non-exclusive breast feeding and, also to evaluate the association between knowledge and attitude towards breastfeeding on the practice of nonexclusive breastfeeding. Methods: A cross sectional study was carried out during the period three months (February to April 2014) in Baghdad city /AL-Karkh district, at AL-salam PHC center on mothers in the reproductive age were visiting the center, who had delivered their last child between 15- 2-2012 and 14-8-2013.A systematic random sample of 317 mother was selected, based on an average sampling frame of 18 women per day. The data were collected using a fully structured questionnaire form. The final format of the prepared questionnaire include information under 4 main domains, sociodemographic factors, practices of breast feeding, mothers knowledge and attitude towards breastfeeding. ; – Results: Non-exclusive breast feeding during the first 6 months of new-born life constituted 271 (85.5%) of the study sample (with a 95% confidence interval of 81.6%-89.4% in the reference population).The positive trend for nonexclusive breastfeeding with socioeconomic status was however not significant statistically. The observed negative trend for the probability of nonexclusive breastfeeding with age was however too small to be of statistical significance. The mean attitude score for mothers with exclusive breast feeding was significantly higher (76.2+12.2) than that for nonexclusive breastfeeding mothers. Mean knowledge score for mothers with nonexclusive breastfeeding mothers was (28.8+11.3)while that for exclusive breastfeeding was obviously higher (32.4+11.6), but the differences in mean failed short of statistical significance (p=0.05). Conclusion: Prevalence of nonexclusive breastfeeding among mothers who ever breastfed was 85.5% .There was no relation between socioeconomic status and the practice of nonexclusive breastfeeding. Mothers with positive attitude towards breastfeeding are less likely to practice nonexclusive breastfeeding. Mothers with good knowledge about breastfeeding might be less likely to practice nonexclusive breastfeeding.

Keywords: Breastfeeding, Iraqi mother, Attitude, Knowledge, Practice.