Assessing the level of knowledge and practice of breastfeeding among factory working mothers in Kathmandu, Nepal

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to assess the level of knowledge and practice of breastfeeding among factory working mothers in Kathmandu who had a minimum of one child of less than two years of age. Design/methodology/approach A cross-sectional survey, with the help of a semi-structured questionnaire, was completed. χ2 or Fisher exact tests were applied for analysis using the SPSS program. Findings In total, 36.0 percent of the mothers had adequate knowledge, and 40.0 percent had an appropriate practice of breastfeeding (BF). Also, 30 percent of them were supplementing their BF with additional milk and 54.0 percent began to give additional food at less than six months of age, mainly due to insufficient breast milk. However, 40.0 percent of mothers practiced exclusive BF; 34.0 percent of mothers continued BF until their child reached two years of age. BF was initiated within an hour by 64.0 percent of mothers. Regarding knowledge, the majority of them (82 percent) knew about initiation time of the feed, 64.0 percent of mothers knew that breast milk had positive effects on a child’s health while 48.0 percent knew that it also had good effects on the mothers’ health. There was a positive association between available facilities and BF knowledge levels (p-value<0.00, χ2=4.25, df=1). The associations of knowledge levels against the education status of mothers (p-value=0.11, χ2=2.59, df=1) and practice level of initiation of breast milk (p-value=0.96, χ2=0.02, df=1) were not significant. Originality/value The knowledge and practices of BF among factory working mothers are not satisfactory. Hence, an effective way to encourage BF is to increase the availability of facilities for the practice of BF at a mother’s workplace.