Knowledge an
Knowledge and Practices of Working Mother about
Breastfeeding and Weaning In Assiut City, Egypt
Safaa A Mohamed Kotb1,
Asmaa G Mohamed1, Entesar M Mohamed2 and Ekram M
Abdel Khalek3
1 Community Health Nursing Department, 2 Obstetrics
and Gynecology Department, Faculty of Nursing,
3 Public Health and Community Medicine Department,
Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Egypt
Abstract: The
importance of breastfeeding, especially exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) is well
established for the infant, the mother and the family. The aim of this study is
assessment the knowledge and the practices regarding breastfeeding and weaning
among working mothers in Assiut city using quantitative and qualitative
approaches. The study was conducted in four MCH centers in 2010. Direct
interviews were done with 43 worked mothers had children aged 4 to 24 months as
well as seven FGDs. 69.8% of the mothers were at the age 30 years or less. All
the studied mothers knew that the breastfeeding is the best nutritional source
for the baby. The majority of the mothers had good knowledge about the advantages
of breastfeeding for the child and the mother. 67.4% initiated breastfeeding
within the first 30 minutes after delivery. The participants in general were
less knowledgeable about exclusive breastfeeding practices. There were some
fault practices reported by the participants. There is a need for health
education programs, which support and encourage breastfeeding particularly at a
primary care level, focusing more on working mothers.
[Safaa A Mohamed Kotb, Asmaa G Mohamed, Entesar
M Mohamed and Ekram M Abdel Khalek. Knowledge and practices of
working mother about breastfeeding and weaning in Assiut city, Egypt. Life
Sci J 2012;9(1):803-808]. (ISSN: 1097-8135). http://www.lifesciencesite.com. 116
Key words: Knowledge- practices- breast feeing weaning Full Text 116
