© December 2024 | IJIRT | Volume 11 Issue 7 | ISSN: 2349-6002

Assessment of Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of

Breast Feeding Among Mothers

Mrs. Blessy Little Christy.P1, Prof. Elizebeth Rani. V 2, Mrs Shanthi Cameron3
1
MSc (N), Ass Professor, VHS M.A. Chidambaram College & School of Nursing, Chennai, TamilNadu,
India
2
MSc (N), PhD Scholar, Professor, VHS M.A. Chidambaram College & School of Nursing, Chennai,
TamilNadu, India
3
Maternal Child Health Officer, VHS M.A. Chidambaram College & School of Nursing, Chennai,
TamilNadu, India
The Tamil Nadu Dr. M.G.R. Medical University1 &2, Chennai
Greater Chennai Corporation3

Abstract—Breastfeeding is essential for the health and by continued breastfeeding with complementary foods
development of infants, yet gaps in knowledge, attitudes, up to two years or beyond. A recent trial has shown
and practices (KAP) among mothers persist despite that early initiation of breastfeeding could reduce
global efforts to promote it. This cross-sectional study
neonatal mortality by 22%. The beneficial effects of
aimed to assess the KAP of breastfeeding among mothers
breastfeeding depend on correct breastfeeding
and examine the association between these factors and
demographic variables. A total of 120 breastfeeding practices. However, in India, the initiation of
mothers from UCHC were selected using a non- breastfeeding after birth is often delayed, and in many
probability convenience sampling method, and the data cases, valuable colostrum is discarded before the baby
were analyzed using SPSS version 2.0. The results is put to the breast. It is recommended that babies
indicated that 36.7% of the mothers had inadequate should be exclusively breastfed for the first six
knowledge, 35.0% had a poor attitude, and 49.2% months. Despite these recommendations,
engaged in poor breastfeeding practices. Correlation breastfeeding practices remain suboptimal in many
analysis showed weak and statistically insignificant
regions. Factors such as education, cultural beliefs,
relationships between knowledge, attitude, and practice
socio-economic status, and healthcare support
(p > 0.05), while association analysis revealed a
statistically significant link between mothers' influence mothers' breastfeeding behaviors. This study
occupations and their level of knowledge (p = 0.035) and investigates the knowledge, attitude, and practices
between the number of pregnancies and breastfeeding (KAP) of breastfeeding among mothers to identify
practices. These findings underscore the need for health gaps and improve intervention strategies.
education programs and community support systems to
improve attitudes and promote breastfeeding as a widely II. PROBLEM STATEMENT
accepted practice.
A study to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice
Index Terms—Breastfeeding, Knowledge, Attitude,
of breast feeding among mothers at selected setting,
Practices, Mothers
Chennai.
I. INTRODUCTION A. OBJECTIVES
1. To assess the knowledge, attitude and practice of
Breastfeeding is a cornerstone of child health, breast feeding among mothers.
providing optimal nutrition and numerous 2. To find the association between level of knowledge,
immunological benefits. The World Health attitude and practice of breast feeding among mothers
Organization (WHO) recommends exclusive with demographic variables.
breastfeeding for the first six months of life, followed

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B. Hypothesis practice levels, while inferential statistics (Chi-square)

H01: There is no significant association between were applied to identify associations between
knowledge, attitude and practice of breast feeding knowledge, attitude, practice, and demographic
among mothers with demographic variables. factors.
H02: There is significant association between IV. RESULTS & DISCUSSION
knowledge, attitude and practice of breast feeding
A. Demographic variables
among mothers with demographic variables.
The majority of mothers (38.3%) were in the 25–29
III. METHODS AND METHODOLOGY age group, with 35.8% holding an undergraduate (UG)
degree, which was the most common education level.
A. Study design
A large proportion of mothers were housewives
The study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitude, and
(83.3%), and all were married (100%). Most mothers
practice of breastfeeding among mothers. It employed
(75.8%) had one child, and the majority resided in
an evaluative approach using a quantitative non-
urban areas (93.3%). Hinduism was the predominant
experimental descriptive research design.
religion (69.2%) among mothers. Family structures
B. Study population
were nearly evenly divided, with 51.7% living in joint
This cross-sectional study involved breastfeeding
families. Regarding obstetric history, 64.2% of
mothers who were contacted by the researcher, and
mothers had experienced two pregnancies, and 74.2%
information about the study was provided to them. A
had one live birth. Normal deliveries were reported by
total of 120 breastfeeding mothers from UCHC were
61.7%, and 84.2% of pregnancies were carried to full
selected as participants using a non-probability
term. A significant proportion of mothers (51.7%)
convenience sampling method to ensure
breastfed their infants fewer than 12 times per day.
representativeness.
Furthermore, 88.3% of mothers received information
C. Data collection tools structured questionnaire
on the importance of breastfeeding during antenatal
Data collection was conducted using a structured
visits, and 86.7% were provided guidance on proper
questionnaire consisting of four sections. The first
breastfeeding practices for their most recent child.
section gathered socio-demographic details of the
Knowledge of Breastfeeding
mothers. The second section assessed their knowledge
N = 120
of breastfeeding through 15 multiple-choice questions,
with each correct answer earning one mark, and
knowledge levels categorized as inadequate (0–50%),
moderately adequate (51–75%), or adequate (76–
100%). The third section measured attitudes towards
breastfeeding with 10 attitude-related questions based
on a Likert scale (3 = Disagree, 2 = Neutral, 1 =
Agree), with scores ranging from 5 to 10, categorized
Fig 1- knowledge on breast feeding
as poor attitude (<22), fair attitude (23–35), or good
Fig. 1 illustrates that 36.7% of mothers demonstrated
attitude (>35). The fourth section focused on
inadequate knowledge, 33.3% exhibited moderate
breastfeeding practices, with 10 'Yes' or 'No'
knowledge, and 30.0% had adequate knowledge
questions, where correct answers scored 1 point and
regarding breastfeeding.
incorrect answers scored 0; practices were categorized
The study by Dukuzumuremyi et al. (2020) found that
as poor practice (0–2), fair practice (3–6), or good
most mothers in East Africa had heard of exclusive
practice (7–10). Data collection was carried out
breastfeeding (EBF), and many were aware of its
through an interview method.
importance. However, there were gaps in their
D. Data analysis
knowledge about key aspects, such as the correct
The collected data were analyzed using descriptive
duration of EBF. While 49.2% of mothers knew that
and inferential statistical methods via SPSS software.
EBF should be practiced for the first six months, many
Descriptive statistics (percentages and correlation)
had misconceptions, like the importance of
were used to summarize knowledge, attitude, and

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breastfeeding immediately after birth and the role of The results in Fig. 2, showing that 49.2% of mothers
colostrum. reported poor breastfeeding practices, 22.5% reported
In conclusion, both studies highlight the need for fair practices, and 28.3% reported good practices,
better education to address misconceptions and reflect similar findings from Sabo et al. (2023), where
improve mothers' understanding of exclusive only 26.8% of mothers practiced exclusive
breastfeeding. breastfeeding (EBF). Despite factors like education,
B. Attitude of Breastfeeding awareness, and positive attitudes being linked to better
Table 1: Overall Level of attitude of Breastfeeding practices, the overall rate of EBF was still low. This
N = 120 suggests that while knowledge and support are
Level of Attitude Percentage(%) important, more practical help and education are
Poor 42 35.0 needed to improve breastfeeding practices among
Fair 43 35.8 mothers.
Good 35 29.2 C. Relationship between Knowledge, Attitude, and
The findings from Table 1, which show that 35.0% of Practice of Breastfeeding
mothers had a poor attitude toward breastfeeding, Table 2: Correlation between Knowledge, Attitude,
35.8% had a fair attitude, and 29.2% had a good and Practice of Breastfeeding
attitude, reflect a mixed perspective on breastfeeding N = 120
attitudes. This is like the study by Krishnendu M and Karl Pearson's Correlation
Devaki G. (2017), which showed that while a large Variables
coefficient
percentage of mothers in Thrissur district practiced Knowledge Vs Attitude on r= 0.061
breastfeeding well, there were still gaps in attitudes Breast feeding p= 0.510
toward breastfeeding, with some mothers giving pre- Knowledge Vs Practice on r = -0.007
lacteal feeds instead of breast milk as the first feed. Breast feeding P=0.943
Despite awareness of exclusive breastfeeding, many Attitude Vs Practice on r = 0.059
mothers in both studies did not fully practice it. This Breast feeding P=0.521
gap between knowledge and practice suggests that *p <0.05, ** p <0.01, *** p <0.001 S – Significant
improving attitudes toward breastfeeding is crucial. NS – Non-significant
Positive attitudes can encourage better practices, so The weak correlations in Table 3 (knowledge-attitude:
interventions focused on enhancing attitudes and r = 0.061, knowledge-practice: r = -0.007, attitude-
providing breastfeeding support are essential for practice: r = 0.059) contrast with the stronger
improving breastfeeding outcomes. correlations found in the study by Jalil et al. (2024),
Practice of Breastfeeding where knowledge-attitude (r = 0.591) and attitude-
practice (r = 0.525) were positively linked. The weak
correlations in Table 3 suggest that mothers'
knowledge doesn't always lead to positive attitudes or
practices. In comparison, the Jalil et al. study shows
that a positive attitude is associated with better
breastfeeding practices. These differences highlight
that improving knowledge alone isn't enough; support
and education are needed to improve both attitudes and
Fig 2: Level of Breast-Feeding Practices practices.

Association of knowledge, Attitude and Practice with Demographic Variables

Table 3: Association between occupation and knowledge levels
Occupation Inadequate Moderate Adequate Chi-Square
Housewife 38 38 24 2 = 13.553
Self-employed 1 1 5 p = 0.03* S
Government 3 1 3
Private 2 0 4

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Table 4: Association between gravida and practice Levels

Gravida Poor Fair Good Chi-Square
1 27 8 4
2 = 11.810
2 30 18 29
p = 0.01** S
3 2 1 1
*p <0.05, ** p <0.01, *** p <0.001 S – Significant NS – Non-significant

The findings from Tab 3 and Tab 4 show that VII. HUMAN RIGHTS AND ETHICAL
occupation is linked to breastfeeding knowledge, and CONSIDERATION
the number of pregnancies (gravida) is linked to
breastfeeding practice. However, other demographic The study was approved by the ethical committee
factors did not show a significant association with constituted by the hospital. Permission was obtained
knowledge, attitude, or practice of breastfeeding. from concerned hospital authority, Chennai. Informed
These results are similar to the study by consent was obtained from the samples for their
Temoirokomalani et al. (2021), which found that willingness to participate in the study.
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