Prevalence and Knowledge towards Breastfeeding of Mothers Attending the Well-Baby Clinic at Primary Health Centers in Makkah Al-Mukarramah, 2018

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BACKGROUND: Breastfeeding offers a lot of benefits to both the mother and infant. The World Health Organization (WHO) even recommended breastfeeding as an effective way in promoting infant nutrition. However, despite of advancing medical technology, breastfeeding practice is continually declining in Saudi Arabia as caused by a variety of factors. AIM: The aim of this research is to assess the knowledge on breastfeeding, its prevalence, and the socio-demographic factors affecting the knowledge of mothers attending a well-baby clinic in primary health care centers in Makkah. Methodology: The researcher conducted a cross-sectional survey to working mothers attending a well-baby clinic in primary health care centers in Makkah. Mothers of childbearing age and of any nationality were included in this study. A self-administered questionnaire involving three main sections, namely: socio-demographic information, level of knowledge, and attitude of mothers was utilized for data collection. Results: Majority of the respondents score correctly in 19 out of 20 knowledge items concerning breastfeeding practice. Relating the socio-demographic characteristics of participants towards their breastfeeding knowledge, the average knowledge score was found to range from 13 to 14, suggesting that the sampling population have an average knowledge on breastfeeding and its benefits. Mothers with infant delivered via spontaneous vaginal delivery and with housemaid were reported to have higher mean knowledge scores and are deemed to have better knowledge towards breastfeeding. Likewise, those who breastfed until 6 months, those who stopped breastfeeding after 12 months, and those who introduced supplemental food between 4 and 6 months garnered a higher mean knowledge scores. On the other hand, mothers who consulted their doctor on choosing artificial milk as well as those whose milk had been changed more than once had gotten a lower mean knowledge score. Conclusion: The result of self-administered questionnaire suggests that the sampling population have an average knowledge on breastfeeding and its benefits. Factors such as nationality, occupation of the mother, and mode of infant delivery were not significantly associated to breastfeeding practice. On the other hand, experiencing the SVD or CS mode of infant delivery and having housemaids can aid in the dissemination of breastfeeding knowledge.