title: Knowledge, attitudes and practices of Iraqi mothers and family child-caring women regarding breastfeeding.
abstract: We assessed breastfeeding knowledge, attitudes and practices of 3413 Iraqi mothers and adult female relatives in the same household and their association with sociodemographic characteristics. The majority of the women (73.1%) initiated breastfeeding early after delivery, 92.9% believed colostrum was good for their baby and 64.6% breastfed on demand. However, knowledge was lacking about full exclusive breastfeeding until 6 months postpartum, signs of good positioning and latch-on and the correct to introduce supplements. Nearly 35% believed that breast milk was not enough for their infants. Rural and less educated women knew less about breastfeeding concepts than more educated urban women but more continued breastfeeding longer and introduced supplements later.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, College of Medicine, Al-Nahrain University, Baghdad, Iraq. atheer4867@hotmail.com
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Abdul Ameer
authors.forename: A H M
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Al-Hadi
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Abdulla
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000208:ethnology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003126:Colostrum; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000208:ethnology; D006266:Health Education; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007224:Infant Care / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007225:Infant Food; D007493:Iraq; D008423:Maternal Age; D008425:Maternal Behavior / Q000208:ethnology; D009035:Mothers / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D020380:Needs Assessment; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D014886:Weaning; D014930:Women / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology