[Exclusive breastfeeding and mixed feeding: knowledge, attitudes and practices of primiparous mothers].
We assessed the knowledge attitudes and practices of primiparous women with regard to exclusive breastfeeding and the use of formula milk. A total of 260 women were interviewed and the results showed that 41.5% of the women breastfed exclusively while 58.5% bottle-fed only or did so together with breastfeeding. Of those who breastfed, 43.0% did not do so soon after giving birth and did not know about colostrum. Overall, the knowledge, attitudes and practices of the mothers were unsatisfactory concerning the golden rules for successful breastfeeding, the ideal duration of exclusive breastfeeding and the food to include when introducing complementary feeding. This might be due to a low level of schooling and information, hence the need for improving strategies for maternal care during the antenatal and postnatal periods.
Ben Slama
F
F
lnstitut National de Santé Publique, Tunis, Tunisie. fethraj@yahoo.fr
Ayari
I
I
Ouzini
F
F
Belhadj
O
O
Achour
N
N
D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001903:Bottle Feeding / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004521:Educational Measurement; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D009035:Mothers / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009042:Motivation; D010298:Parity; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011247:Pregnancy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D014416:Tunisia; D014886:Weaning