Predictors of exclusive breastfeeding knowledge and intention to or practice of exclusive breastfeeding among antenatal and postnatal women receiving routine care: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

BackgroundDespite consistent evidence showing the importance of exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) for six months, it remains a sub-optimal practice in The Gambia. This study aimed at investigating the determinants of EBF knowledge and intention to or practice of EBF.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted among 334 women receiving care at the Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital (EFSTH) from December 2015 to February 2016. Using a structured interviewer-administered questionnaire, knowledge on EBF was determined and scored. Participants scoring above or equal to the median were determined to have sufficient EBF knowledge. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to identify predictors of EBF knowledge and intention to or practice of exclusive breastfeeding.ResultsThe proportion of women with sufficient exclusive breastfeeding knowledge and intended to or practice EBF were 60.2% and 38.6% respectively, while only 34.4% received EBF counseling. Earning ≥1500 GMD monthly (Adjusted Odds Ratio [aOR] 1.98; 95% Confidence Interval [Cl] 1.24, 3.16), having positive attitude (aOR 2.40; 95% Cl 1.40, 4.10) and partner supporting EBF (aOR 2.18; 95% Cl 1.23, 3.87) predicted sufficient EBF knowledge. Mothers aged 26–34 years (aOR 0.50; 9 5% Cl 0.31, 0.82) and EBF counseling (aOR 2.68; 95% Cl 1.68, 4.29) significantly associated with intention to or practice of exclusive breastfeeding.ConclusionIn conclusion, improving EBF rates will, therefore, require improved access to information on EBF targeting low socio-economically disadvantaged and older mothers. In addition, emphasis on strengthening the ongoing EBF counseling already within the health system is required.

Prenatal infant feeding intentions and actual feeding practices during the first six months postpartum in rural Rwanda: a qualitative, longitudinal cohort study

“…The majority of participants in our study intended to breastfeed within the first hour after birth and to breastfeed exclusively for the first 6 months. Consistent with other studies in African contexts in Gambia and Ghana [20,21], our study found that knowledge about the health, emotional, and nutritional value of early initiation and EBF advantages served as a strong motivation for women's intention to breastfeed. Health professionals, specifically nurses, were said to be an important source of knowledge to support the mother's intention to breastfeed within the first hour after birth and to continue with EBF for the first 6 months.…”

Adaptation and validation of the Iowa infant feeding attitude scale and the breastfeeding knowledge questionnaire for use in an Ethiopian setting

“…Maternal knowledge and attitude towards optimal breastfeeding practices are factors that affect practices of breastfeeding in addition to socio-demographic factors [1][2][3][4][5]. Both knowledge and attitude are modifiable variables that can be addressed to improve breastfeeding practices [6][7][8][9][10][11][12].…”

The Level of Knowledge and Support of Husband With Exclusive Breastfeeding at Padang

“…Results of the research in Dhaka Cyti The study showed that no significant association was found between total knowledge score of breastfeeding with remaining sociodemographic variables like age, marital status, family income and expenditure (Afrose et al, 2012) Many factors influence the exclusive breastfeeding, namely mother's knowledge, husband's knowledge, education, attitude, family or husband's support, socio-economic factors, mother's demographics (Afrose et al, 2012;Mohamad et al, 2015;Thet et al, 2016;Alamirew et al, 2017;Elyas et al, 2017;Ratnasari et al, 2017;Senghore et al, 2018;Amelinda, Astuti and Yuliani, 2019;Nurfa'izah, Sinaga and Mabe, 2019;Tsegaye et al, 2019)…”