Determining the Knowledge of Mothers Having Children Aged 6-24 Months About Breastfeeding, Breastfeeding Duration and Related Factors Affecting Breastfeeding

Abstract

Aim: This study was designed to assess knowledge of women having infants from 6 to 24 months age, about breastfeeding, breastfeeding duration and related factors affecting breastfeeding. Subjects and methods: A questionnaire was applied to a sample of 250 women having infants aged 6-24 months, concerning their knowledge about breastfeeding, breastfeeding duration and the factors that influences their breastfeeding experience. Results: It was determined that the majority of women in this study had their first delivery between 18-35 years of age (%86.9), their education level is high school or above (%72.0) and normal BKI levels (76.8%). The mean duration of breastfeeding of non-smoker women (n=204, %81.6) was higher than women (n=30, %18.4) who continue smoking (respectively 12.4±7.5 and 8.4±5.5 months) and there was a significant correlation between breastfeeding and smoking (p<0,05). In terms of breastfeeding duration, there was a negative correlation between women who give nipple and who only breastfeed in 6 months of postpartum (respectively 10.4± 6.6 and 13.5±7.7 months). The same relation was determined between mothers who use feeding bottle and who only breastfeed (respectively 8.8± 6.2 and 14.2±7.3 months). On the other hand, there was a significant correlation between mothers who give infant formula and/or complementary foods and who only breastfeed (p<0.001). It was observed that mean breastfeeding duration was 11.9±7.3 months. In terms of breastfeeding durations of mothers who were given information about breastfeeding before or after the delivery, mothers who have knowledge about breastfeeding, had higher breastfeeding durations (12.2±7.2 months) than women who didn’t receive any information (10.7±7.9 months). However difference between these two groups were not significant (p>0.05). Conclusion: Mean breastfeeding duration is high according to the results of this study. There was a statistically significant correlation between breastfeeding duration and smoking, using nipples and feeding bottle, complementary foods and infant formula, however there was not a significant relation between breastfeeding duration and awareness of mothers about breastfeeding. For future intervention, it is necessary to evaluate the knowledge status of mothers about importance of breast milk, breastfeeding duration and the factors effecting breastfeeding duration.