KNOWLEDGE AND PRACTICE REGARDING BREASTFEEDING AMONG POSTNATAL MOTHERS ATTENDING AT BHARATPUR HOSPITAL, CHITWAN

Shraddha Regmi and Indira Adhikari (Poudel)*

ABSTRACT

Objectives: To find out the knowledge and practice regarding breastfeeding among postnatal mothers. Materials and methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study design was used to collect data from 90 Postnatal mothers. Mothers were selected purposively from postnatal ward of Bharatpur Hospital. Data was collected by using semi-structured interview schedule to find out the knowledge and observational checklist was used to assess practice regarding breastfeeding. Data was entered into IBM SPSS version 20 and analyzed by using of descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: Out of 90 respondent mean age was 23.68±4.31 years, 84.4% of respondent followed Hinduism and 46.7% were in house hold job. Mothers who had child had satisfactory practice than the mother who did not have previous child (p=0.001). More than one fourth of postnatal mother have poor level of knowledge on breastfeeding and nearly half of the mother have unsatisfactory level of practice on breastfeeding. Mother’s knowledge was higher on meaning of breastfeeding (92.2%), meaning of colostrums (97.8%) whereas lower on continuous duration of breastfeeding (34.4%). Similarly mother’s breastfeeding practice was satisfactory on sitting comfortable position (93.3%), whereas unsatisfactory on cleaning breast before feeding (4.4%) and burping baby after breastfeeding (2.2%). Conclusion: One fourth of postnatal mothers have poor knowledge and nearly half of mothers had unsatisfactory practice regarding breast feeding.Therefore breastfeeding awareness and proper breastfeeding technique should be conducted through health institution and community level for women to increase the level of knowledge and practice regarding breastfeeding.

Keywords: Breast Feeding, Postnatal Mother, Knowledge and Practice.