| Abstrakt: |
Breastfeeding is important to both the mother and child. World Breastfeeding Week, observed as a public health campaign in India, has played an important role in increasing knowledge and awareness about breastfeeding. This study aimed to find out the existing knowledge, attitudes and practices of breastfeeding (KAP) among the postpartum mothers in our tertiary care institute and the impact of age, parity and mode of delivery, educational and socioeconomic status on KAP. A structured questionnaire was administered to 100 postpartum mothers in the age group 18-45 years during their institute stay after delivery, based on simple random sampling. The maximum correct KAP responses were obtained from those aged between 30-40 years [86.7%]. Similarly, those who delivered vaginally had a higher (86.7%) KAP score compared to caesarean-delivered patients (60%). More than 60% of delivered women were aware of infant feeding options immediately after delivery. Overall, 65% women were aware of continuing breastfeeding despite of maternal or neonatal illness. This study revealed high scores for knowledge and practice-based questions as compared to the attitude-based questions, which needs to be addressed. Though this was a part of the World Breastfeeding Week celebration where breastfeeding awareness is focused on and widely communicated, it should be an ongoing activity to maintain the impact of this awareness program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
