Abstract

Human milk is considered as the gold standard for infant feeding. Breastfeeding advantages extend beyond the properties of human milk itself. A complex of nutritional, environmental, socioeconomic, psychological as well as genetic interactions establish a massive list of benefits of breastfeeding to the health outcomes of the breastfed infant and to the breastfeeding mother. For this reason, exclusive breastfeeding is recommended for about 6 months and should be continued for 2 years of life. Antenatal period is the best period the mother can be prepared for breastfeeding. Many primi mothers are not even aware about the initiation of breast feeding. This study was conducted to assess the knowledge of antenatal mothers regarding breastfeeding using an educational intervention. The findings of the study indicated that before implementation of an educational interventional the primi antenatal mothers (81%) had moderate knowledge (12%) had adequate knowledge and seven of them had poor knowledge about breast feeding. After implementation of an educational intervention, in all aspects of breastfeeding the primi antenatal mothers (78%) had adequate knowledge, about (22%) antenatal mothers had moderate knowledge and none of them were in poor knowledge group. The study revealed that educating the mothers will definitely increase the knowledge about breast feeding. Once the knowledge about breast feeding increases than the mothers will put in practice to benefit their newborns.

Keywords: Breast Feeding; Primi Antenatal Mothers; Initiation

References

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