Attitude of Primigravida towards Breastfeeding in Ha’il City, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Background: Breast-feeding practice is one of the main determinants that influence Infant Mortality Rate (IMR). To adopt this practice, mothers’ attitude plays a pivotal role. Attitude depends upon socio-cultural and economical factors. Objective: To assess factors affecting the attitude of primigravida towards Breastfeeding in Ha’il City, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Method: In this cross-sectional study, 156 primigravida were recruited by using predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Data was collected by awell-structured, closed-ended questionnaire. Results: Majority (51.3%) of our respondents were working ladies (employed, labor, self-employed), and had a high educational level (40.3%). More than half (54.5%) of the primigravida were willing to breastfeed their newborns. Thirty percent of respondents had the intention to practice exclusive breast feeding until 6 months. Majority (43.6%) hadplanned to give mixed feed as a large percentage, considered breast-feeding practices embarrassing and old fashioned. Higher educational level was significantly associated with; number of antenatal visits (according to the prescribed schedule), willingness to breastfeed after resuming the job, right time to have the 1st antenatal visit and willingness to continue exclusive breast feeding until 6 months of the newborn’s age. Although 90% of respondents were breast fed by their own mothers but there was a highly significant association (p≤0.001) of willingness to breastfeed newborns in those respondents whose mother in law breast-fed. Conclusion: Education is found as a main determinant that affects the attitude of primigravida towards breastfeeding. Other variable that influences attitude is the attitude of surrounding people regarding breast-feeding practices. Hence, it is recommended that health education programs on breastfeeding should be incorporated in female adolescent education programs, which will result in the building up of a positive attitude of future mothers towards breastfeeding practices. Keywords: Attitude, Primigravida, Breast-Feeding