Prevalence and obstacles of exclusive breast feeding among women attending primary health care centres in Cairo 2012 (original) (raw)

Factors Affecting Exclusive Breast Feeding of Infants in Port Fouad City

Suez Canal University Medical Journal

Background: Exclusive breastfeeding during the early months of life reduces infant morbidity and mortality, World Health Organization (WHO) defines exclusive breastfeeding as, feeding an infant only with breast milk, excluding solids or any other fluids (including infant formulas) except medicines, vitamins, and minerals, WHO recommended infants to be exclusively breastfed during first 6 months of life Aim: to improve maternal and child health by encouraging exclusive breastfeeding till six months. Subjects and Methods: The present study was designed as a descriptive cross-sectional study that included 670 mothers of infants who came to primary health care centers (El Herafien and El Amal) for vaccination. to determine the Factors Affecting Exclusive Breast Feeding of Infant till six months. Results: This study showed that 10.3% of mothers practice exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months, 9.7% practice artificial feeding, and most of the mothers 80% practice mixed feeding.33.9% initiated BF early within the first hour and two-thirds initiated it after the first hour of delivery and there was a strong relationship between exclusive breastfeeding and early initiation of breastfeeding (OR=5.8). Conclusion: From the previous results, Egypt is one of the developing countries in which we need to support correct feeding practices. Exclusive breastfeeding is a safe, economical, and emotionally satisfying means of feeding babies.

Exclusive breastfeeding knowledge, practices and determinants among mothers in rural areas, Egypt

International Journal Of Community Medicine And Public Health

Background: Objective of the study was to explore exclusive breastfeeding knowledge and practice of among mothers of children less than 2 years in rural areas in Beni-Suef governorate and factors that determine them.Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in rural areas, Beni-Suef governorate over 6 months (February 2019-July 2019) using a designed well-structured questionnaire.Results: The mean breastfeeding knowledge score of enrolled mothers was 7.87±2.2 out of 15. (74.5%) of mothers recruited in this study obtained their knowledge from their mothers, families, and friends. Only 40.4% of the mothers have exclusively breastfed their children. While 57% of participants added food or fluids before 6 months and 37.6% added additional artificial feeding. Mothers’ age, education, occupation, marital status, the order of last-child, mode of delivery, place of delivery and monthly family income were independently associated with exclusive breastfeeding in univariat...

Exclusive Breastfeeding, Prevalence and Maternal Concerns: Saudi and Egyptian Mothers

Breast milk is rich in nutrients and anti-bodies and contains the right quantities of sugar, water, fat and protein that promotes not only growth and development of infants but also important for theirsurvive. Exclusive breastfeeding is enough to the needs of infants less than six months without any addition. Several studies mentioned that the mothers who breastfeed were less risks for certain poor health outcomes. Aim is identifying, prevalence and maternal concerns of exclusive breastfeeding in KAS and ARE. Tools: an interview questionnaire sheet that assessed socio-demographic data of infants and their mothers, maternal satisfaction and concerns and infants' feeding types. Results, 65% from Egyptian mothers feed their infants exclusively while in Saudi mothers was 14%. Regarding maternal concerns, 86% from Saudi mothers unsatisfied with EBF while in the Egyptian mothers was 35% and the main concerns in Saudi mothers returned to, EBF not enough to satisfying the baby , not applicable outdoor, need effort and not suitable for working mothers .

Determinants of Exclusive Breastfeeding in a Sample of Egyptian Infants

Open Access Macedonian Journal of Medical Sciences

BACKGROUND: Breastfeeding is an optimum, healthy, and economical mode of feeding an infant. However, many preventable obstacles hinder exclusive breastfeeding in the first six months of life. AIM: We aimed to assess the social-, maternal- and infant-related factors disturbing exclusive breastfeeding in the first six months of life. METHODS: It is a retrospective study included 827 dyads of mothers and infants older than 6 months (411 exclusively breastfed, 311 artificially-fed and 105 mixed feds). Mothers were interviewed to obtain sociodemographic information, maternal medical history and perinatal history and a detailed history of infant feeding. RSULTS: Many factors were found to support the decision for artificial feeding rather than exclusive breastfeeding, including maternal age < 25 years (OR = 2.252), child birth order > 3rd (OR = 2.436), being a primi-para (OR = 1.878), single marital status (OR = 2.762), preterm infant (OR = 3.287) and complicated labor (OR = 1.841)....

Prevalence and Determinants Affecting Breast Feeding among Mothers Attending Meet Mazah Outpatient Clinic

The Egyptian Journal of Hospital Medicine, 2022

Background: Promotion of exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) has been considered as an efficient strategy for reduction of infant morbimortality for the first 6 months of the infant's life. Several factors have been considered as determinants of breastfeeding (BF) among a rural community. Objective: To determine the prevalence of BF in the studied group, assess maternal factors affecting breastfeeding and find out determinants of BF among a rural community in the village of Meet Mazah, Dakahlya, Egypt. Patients and Methods: This study was carried out on a total of 200 breast-feeder mothers to determine the prevalence of breastfeeding in the studied group, assess maternal factors affecting BF and find out determinants of BF among a rural community in the village of Meet Mazah, Dakahlya, Egypt. Results: The prevalence of breastfeeding was 71%. BF was significantly higher among younger age, lower educational level and lower income mothers. BF mothers were significantly more knowledgeable about the importance of breastfeeding compared to non-BF. BF women were associated with a higher attitude of breastfeeding compared to non-BF ones Conclusion: Despite mothers' knowledge and attitudes towards EBF were favorable, practice of EBF was not optimal. The current study adds further evidence that knowledge of EBF, mother's age, maternal income and maternal level of education are essential determinants in the context of EBF practice.

Patterns and determinants of breastfeeding and complementary feeding practices of Emirati Mothers in the United Arab Emirates

BMC Public Health, 2013

Background: The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months of life for optimal growth, development and health. Breastfeeding should continue up to two years or more and nutritionally adequate, safe, and appropriately-fed complementary foods should be introduced at the age of six months to meet the evolving needs of the growing infant. Little evidence exists on breastfeeding and infant feeding practices in urban slums in sub-Saharan Africa. Our aim was to assess breastfeeding and infant feeding practices in Nairobi slums with reference to WHO recommendations. Methods: Data from a longitudinal study conducted in two Nairobi slums are used. The study used information on the first year of life of 4299 children born between September 2006 and January 2010. All women who gave birth during this period were interviewed on breastfeeding and complementary feeding practices at recruitment and this information was updated twice, at four-monthly intervals. Cox proportional hazard analysis was used to determine factors associated with cessation of breastfeeding in infancy and early introduction of complementary foods. Results: There was universal breastfeeding with almost all children (99%) having ever been breastfed. However, more than a third (37%) were not breastfed in the first hour following delivery, and 40% were given something to drink other than the mothers' breast milk within 3 days after delivery. About 85% of infants were still breastfeeding by the end of the 11 th month. Exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months was rare as only about 2% of infants were exclusively breastfed for six months. Factors associated with sub-optimal infant breastfeeding and feeding practices in these settings include child's sex; perceived size at birth; mother's marital status, ethnicity; education level; family planning (pregnancy desirability); health seeking behaviour (place of delivery) and; neighbourhood (slum of residence).

Knowledge, attitude and practice regarding exclusive breastfeeding among mothers attending primary health care centers in Abha city

International Journal of Medical Science and Public Health, 2014

Background: Exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months is viewed as a major public health intervention to reduce the child mortality, particularly, in the neonates and infants. Aims & Objectives: To study the knowledge, attitude and practice regarding exclusive breastfeeding as well as to identify its determinants and explore barriers against it among mothers in Abha City. Materials and Methods: A cross sectional study was adopted. It included all mothers, who have a child aged 6-12 months, attending primary health care centers within the Abha city. An Arabic validated questionnaire was used for data collection. It comprises 3 parts as follows: personal characteristics, knowledge about breast feeding and attitude toward breastfeeding. Results: A total of 600 women, with children aged between 6 months and 12 months, from those registered in PHCC in Abha were included in the study. Their age ranged between 18 and 47 years with a mean of 31.4±5 years. Most of them were Saudi (88.2%) and university graduated (78.7%). Overall mothers' breastfeeding knowledge was good among more than half of them (55.3%) and excellent among 30.7% of them while it was unsatisfactory among 14% of the mothers. Positive attitude towards breastfeeding was reported among 62.2% of the participants while negative attitude was reported among more than one-third of them (37.8%). Breastfeeding in the first 6 months was practiced by 24.7% of the participated mothers. Of them, only 7.3% practiced exclusive breast feeding. In the multivariate analysis, governmental workers had significant double probability of not practicing exclusive breastfeeding as opposed to house wives (adjusted OR= 1.9, 95%CI= 1.02-4.3). Women delivered by caesarean section were at double risk for non-practicing exclusive breastfeeding compared to those delivered normally (adjusted OR= 2.1, 95%CI= 1.2-10.4). Women who did not have breastfeeding education were at higher risk of not practicing exclusive breastfeeding than those have it (adjusted OR=1.9, 95%CI=1.06-11.2). Work-related problems (46.2%), insufficient breast milk (34.2%), maternal health problems (14.9%) and neonatal health problems (9.7%) are the commonly reported barriers against exclusive breastfeeding. Conclusion: Breastfeeding exclusivity among our sample is suboptimal, compared to the current WHO recommendations, despite the relatively higher level of knowledge. Irrespective of maternal educational status, many misconceptions are prevalent regarding breastfeeding practices that need special emphasis in health education campaigns.

Determinants of Exclusive Breastfeeding and Introduction of Complementary foods in Rural Egyptian Communities

Global Journal of Health Science, 2014

Background: Determinants of breastfeeding (BF) exclusivity at a rural Egyptian setting are largely unknown. This cross-sectional study aimed to assess BF indicators, specifically exclusivity and the timely complementary feeding while assessing potential determinants that affect exclusivity of BF among a sample of mothers inhabiting Egyptian rural communities. Methods: A community based cross-sectional study was carried out over a period of four months with inclusion of 1000 eligible women having infants aged less than two years through a multi-stage random sampling method. Personal interview, using structured questionnaire, to collect information on socio-demographic characteristics, antenatal care services, women's lactation practices, complementary feeding practices and knowledge about BF. Results: All the included mothers had breastfed their infants, and 32.4% of them initiated BF within the first hour of life and 29.9% exclusively breastfed their infants for 6 months after birth. Complementary feeding was introduced for children aged 6-9 months in 63.6% of them. Bivariate analysis showed that factors favoring exclusive BF were age of the mother (<25 years), with secondary or higher education, number of children, with no history of complicated pregnancy or lactation problems, received health education about BF and having knowledge about BF. Logistic regression model showed that most influential significant predictor for exclusive BF was receiving of health education about BF and adequate knowledge of BF. Conclusions: Although all rural Egyptian mothers included, initiated BF, the rate of its exclusivity was low. Comprehensive education about BF during pregnancy is strongly needed to promote BF among them.

A Metanalysis of Trends in Knowledge and Practice of Breastfeeding in Egypt: A Case Study from the Eastern Mediterranean Region

Open Journal of Social Sciences

Introduction: Considerable global and country efforts have been made in the past three decades to promote breastfeeding through extending exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) to six months and revising the Ten steps of the Baby Friendly Hospitals Initiative (BFHI). Aim: To assess impact of promotion efforts of the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF on the trends in knowledge and practice of Egyptian mothers towards EBF and practices of BFHI. Methods: This is a metanalysis study of pooled data from local research. A search for the current and past research focused on EBF and BFHI practices was performed through Egyptian University Libraries of Higher education, google and PubMed for using keywords of knowledge and practices about early infant feeding practices over the past 15 years in Egypt. Raw data were pooled for metanalysis. Twenty-four studies were identified: 12 studies from 2008 to 2018 and 12 studies from 2018 to 2022 which allowed for pooled data for 9685 mothers. Findings: Trends increased for knowledge and practice towards EBF, importance of colostrum and hazards of supplementation but not for early initiation of breastfeeding (EIBF) which decreased. Donated supplies of milk formula to hospitals increased. Trend in practices for offering supplements, and feeding bottles with breastfeeding decreased with increase in EBF at birth but with increase in pacifier use. EIBF through skin-to-skin (STS) remains abstinent. Illiteracy and incomplete education are still high among housewives who do not get any sustenance from the government. Conclusions: Trends show support of the WHO recommendations of EBF for 6 months. EIBF and STS remain a challenge. The rights of women in breastfeeding support and protection are far from adequate to meet the rising trends in marketing of milk formula. Low literacy, disempowerment and lack of support remain barriers to EBF and continued breastfeeding for two years.

Effect of continued support and mother's counseling on the duration of exclusive breastfeeding in a rural area in Egypt

International Journal of Advanced Research in Medicine

Background: Breastfeeding counseling is an effective public health intervention to increase rates of any and exclusive breastfeeding. This work aimed to study the effect of breastfeeding education, continued support, and mothers' counseling on initiation and continuation of exclusive breastfeeding. Methods: This quasi-experimental study was carried out on 176 mothers and their infants who were divided into two equal groups (control group): received the routine health education service as regards breastfeeding, and (intervention group): received the routine service in addition to continued support on initiation and continuation of exclusive breastfeeding. Results: There was a significant difference between the two studied groups as regard duration of exclusive breastfeeding, mean of this duration and period of follow-up (P=0.000). There was highly significant difference between the two studied groups as regards method of communication and length of the period of follow-up (p<0.001). There was non-significant difference between the two studied groups as regards socio-demographic characteristics of the infants and progress of the nutritional status by the type of measurement by the period of follow-up. Conclusions: Skilled breastfeeding counseling as part of comprehensive breastfeeding policies and programs in health facilities can increase the duration of exclusive breastfeeding up to six months. In addition, the ongoing individualized support and counseling can solve most of the problems that face mothers during breastfeeding. Exclusive breastfeeding does not significantly affect an infant's weight or length, but without doubt, can improve the nutritional status of malnourished infants.