Assessment of Breastfeeding Attitude and Practice among Mothers of Eastern Region of Saudi Arabia: A cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Abstract Background The international guidelines have recommended that neonates and infants shall be placed on exclusive breastfeeding for at least six months. Previous studies on breastfeeding rates in Saudi Arabia have reported less than the optimal breastfeeding rate. The current study aimed to assess the breastfeeding rate in the eastern region of Saudi Arabian. Methods The cross-sectional study was conducted over the period of 6 months in a tertiary care hospital designated as a Baby-friendly initiative hospital (BFHI). The study utilized a modified Iowa Infant Feeding Attitude Scale (IIFAS) tool, which consists of a 21-item validated questionnaire. All the enrolled mothers were interviewed face-to-face using a modified IIFAS tool in the postpartum room. After the completion of the interview, the mothers were educated about the importance of breastfeeding. The enrolled mothers were again interviewed after six months period using the same modified IIFAS tool. Results During the study period, a total of 156 women were enrolled in the study. The average age of the participants was 33.5 ± 4.6 years. The majority of participants i.e., 112 (71.9%) gave birth by vaginal delivery method. Most of the children (57.7%) started breastfeeding only at the time of birth. But the number declined significantly low to 21.7% participants after six months. In contrast, the number of children who started formula feeding increased significantly from 2.6–31.9%. As per the defined criteria of knowledge scoring, only 27 (17.3%) were observed to have good knowledge. Around two-third of participants reported having adequate knowledge, while 28 (17.9%) participants had poor knowledge. Conclusion Compared to previous studies conducted among Saudi mothers, the exclusive breastfeeding rate after delivery was observed to be low. Moreover, the breastfeeding attitude and continuation after six months of birth was also found to be low as compared to previous studies. The current study highlights the importance of continuous education and efforts to promote the breast feeding among Saudi mothers.