Abstract:
As a part of standard antenatal care, breast feeding (BF) information,
demonstration and professional interventions play vital roles in improving
the rates of BF. The aim of this study was to examine the primiparous
mothers’ perception regarding BF education they had received as theory
and demonstrations including professional interventions. Descriptive cross
sectional study was conducted participating 242 primiparous, postnatal
mothers as a convenience sample. Data collection was done using
interviewer-administered questionnaire during the period of February to
March 2018. Out of the participants, 41.7% (101) were 28-33 years old,
50.8% (123) were educated up to advanced-level and 59.1% (143) were
housewives. Study findings revealed that the participants have gained
knowledge related to BF as: Advantages of BF 96% (232), Exclusive BF
91% (220), Demand feeding 88% (212), and Positioning and attachment
74% (179). Findings related to professional support, the mothers
experienced as: nurses’ and midwives’ assistance to initiate BF 92.6%
(224), maintain good rapport 88% (212), professional competency 95.4%
(231), and interventions done to relieve anxiety and fear on BF problems as
94.2% (228). The study findings of the mothers’ perception show that the
BF educational programme is successful but needs some modifications for
further development.