Abstract:
Background: Breastfeeding (BF) is the single most important low-cost intervention to reduce child morbidity and mortality worldwide. Proper breastfeeding practice is a huge economical investment to a country, especially in low resource setting regions in the world. However, successful establishment of breastfeeding can be challenging for primigravida women due to lack of knowledge, negative attitudes, and insufficient support. It is important to identify those strategic areas which need further strengthening to optimize the outcome of breastfeeding practices in the country. Objectives: To determine the knowledge, attitudes and establishment of breastfeeding in primigravida women at the tertiary care maternity hospital in Galle, Sri Lanka Methods: A descriptive study was conducted among 170 primigravida women who gave birth at Teaching Hospital Mahamodara (THM), Galle. Mothers were selected from postnatal wards THM, Galle using convenient consecutive sampling method. The data were collected using validated structured interviewer-administrated baby-friendly initiative questionnaire to obtain establishment of the breastfeeding (UNICEF/UK, 2012) in two stages: within the first 24 hours of birth and on the 7th postnatal day. Results: The study revealed that most of the participants (n=86, 50.6%) had satisfactory knowledge about breastfeeding. Majority of primigravida women (n=101, 59.4%) had positive attitudes towards breastfeeding of their newborn babies. Vast majority of postnatal women (n=164, 96.5%) had achieved high establishment of breastfeeding rate at 7th day after the delivery. Overall complications (latching problems, breast pain, cracked nipple) related to breastfeeding were 51.7% (n=88). There was a statistically significant association between younger age and non-establishment of breastfeeding compared to advanced age. Conclusions: Awareness of primigravida women regarding breastfeeding is satisfactorily high. Majority of women have positive attitudes for the breastfeeding. Their establishment of breastfeeding is very high at 7 days after the delivery, even though the complications related to breastfeeding are significantly high. When the woman is younger, establishment of breastfeeding
