Breastfeeding knowledge, practices, and their determinants among recently delivered mothers: A cross-sectional study

Background: Breastfeeding is an important determinant of child survival. Breastfeeding practices vary throughout the nation.

Objectives: To assess the breastfeeding practices and the knowledge of recently delivered mothers regarding breastfeeding practices.

Materials and methods: This community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among women who had delivered in the Moradabad region of Uttar Pradesh last year. A total of 423 households was divided between the six community health blocks according to probability sampling. A predesigned and pretested structured questionnaire was utilized to collect data. Knowledge scores were calculated.

Results: The majority of respondents had the correct knowledge about breastfeeding immediately after birth (76.6%), prelacteal foods should not be provided (82.2%), colostrum feeding (89.0%), adequate frequency of breastfeeding (99.1%), and exclusively breastfeeding (78.7%). The knowledge scores about breastfeeding were good (64.9%) for mothers. A higher proportion of respondents practiced breastfeeding only, or cup fed with breast milk only their babies for the first 2 days of life (62.3%), and the majority fed their baby with adequate frequency. Only (55.7%) put their baby to breast within an hour after birth. Colostrum was not squeezed and thrown by nearly (59.7%) of mothers. The breastfeeding practices scores were good among one-third of mothers. Age of mother, type of family, mother's education, socioeconomic status, and type of delivery were significant determinants of good breastfeeding practices (<0.05).

Conclusions: The knowledge and practices of infant feeding can be strengthened by further engaging and counseling of mothers, family, and community members by health workers.