KNOWLEDGE AND PRACTICE IN BREASTFEEDING AMONG MOTHERS WHO GAVE BIRTH AT A DISTRICT HOSPITAL AND RELATED FACTORS

Abstract

Exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months after birth offers clear benefits for mothers and their babies. However, at present, the rate of breastfeeding after birth has not reached high. This study aimed to determine the percentage of correct knowledge and correct practices about breastfeeding of mothers who gave birth in the obstetrics department of the 11^th District Hospital and related factors. The descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on 121 pregnant women between December 2022 and June 2023 using face-to-face interviews and observe breastfeeding practices. The results showed that the percentages of participants who had correct breastfeeding knowledge and practice accounted for 59.5% and 55.4%, respectively. Mothers with incorrect knowledge practiced incorrectly 2.72 times more than mothers with correct knowledge (p<0.05; 95% CI: 1.29 – 5.76). From the results, it is shown that the strengthening of communication and counseling on breastfeeding for pregnant women at birth to improve the proportions of correct knowledge and practice