Breastfeeding Knowledge, Attitude, Practice and Influencing Factors among Libyan Women in Tripoli City: A Cross Sectional Study
الكلمات المفتاحية:
Breastfeeding; Colostrum. Cross-sectional study; Knowledge; Practice; Attitude.الملخص
Exclusive breast feeding is considered the first contact between the mother and her infant. A community based cross-sectional
study was conducted in Tripoli city during July - September 2022 to evaluate the knowledge, attitude and practice of Libyan
women toward breastfeeding and to assess the factors associated with them. A total of 380 mothers, randomly picked and
interviewed, were shared in this study. Our data showed that, 32.63% of mother’s initiates breastfeeding immediately after
delivery, 28.42% were breast feeders up to 3-6 months, 22.89% did continue breastfeeding for 12 months and 56.58% starts use
of supplementary food 4-6 months of baby age. Among them 25.26% were reported to be exclusive breast feeders, 66.05% were
mixed feeders and 8.68% were practicing only infant formula feeding. In addition, 40% of women know that breastfeeding is
a contraceptive natural method and has benefits to both infants and mothers. The majority of women realized that breast milk
digested more easily than infant formula and increases mother’s relationship with her child. About half of mothers (48.68%)
have good knowledge about colostrum and acknowledge its benefit. Mothers agreed that breast milk possesses all the essential
nutrients required for infants and protect them from infection. Nonetheless, there were certain factors interfered with exclusive
breastfeeding including mothers believed that had insufficient milk by 29.39%, and there is no enough privacy for breastfeeding
in work places by 12.10%. Also, short maternity leaves, to somehow, created a negative impact on breastfeeding.
There is no difference between participants’ demographics and feeding plan regarding type of delivery, number of children and
education level of mothers. There is a need for programs that support and encourage for breastfeeding focusing on younger
mothers, and for providing facility items at work places to rise the duration of breast feeding and the percentage of breast feeder
mothers
