Perception and knowledge on exclusive breastfeeding among women attending antenatal and postnatal clinics. a study from Mbarara hospital – Uganda, August 2008.

Abstract

Assessment of the perception and knowledge on EBF practice among women attending antenatal and infant follow up clinics in Mbarara hospital, Uganda in August 2008. This was a Descriptive Cross-sectional study. From a total of 203 respondents, 49.8% had exclusively breastfed their infants for six months, 12.3% for more than six months. The majority of the respondents, 73.8%, knew that a child is supposed to be exclusively breastfed for six months. The main advantage of EBF perceived by 55.2% of the women who were interviewed was nutrition. The main disadvantage of exclusive breastfeeding perceived by the women was depletion of the mother’s health, in only 20%. However majority, 66% perceived that EBF had no disadvantage. Milk not being enough was the main reason why women did not exclusively breastfeed. The preferred duration of breastfeeding was 18 months in 58% of the women and the main source of information was the health facilities for 48% of the women. The results from this study showed that women have increased knowledge about exclusive breastfeeding. But
the perception that EBF is not disadvantageous to the child was substantial. The health facilities provided a good source of information for mothers in Mbarara. Therefore it can be concluded that strengthening this mode of providing information can help to raise the prevalence of EBF significantly.