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

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

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

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.

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).

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