Knowledge, Attitude, and Breastfeeding Practices of Mothers Visiting Tertiary Care Hospital

Objectives: Breastfeeding is the single most important determinant of infant mortality and under-five mortalities. The objective of the study was to estimate the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of mothers regarding the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations for breastfeeding. Material and Methods: This cross-sectional study was done on 350 mothers of children aged 2–5 years in a tertiary care hospital in Chennai. Data were collected on sociodemographic variables, knowledge, attitude, and practices of breastfeeding through face-to-face interviews. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences. Results: About 78.9% knew about early initiation of breastfeeding, 78.6% about exclusive breastfeeding, and 71.1% about breastfeeding till 2 years of age. About 66.9% of mothers initiated early breastfeeding, 60.6% exclusively breastfed, and 48.9% of mothers breastfed their children till 2 years. Only 26% fulfilled all the three criteria of the WHO recommendation for breastfeeding. Conclusion: Although the knowledge and attitude about breastfeeding were good, practices were not optimal. Strong information, education and communication (IEC) activities are needed to encourage mothers regarding breastfeeding practices.