Assessment of knowledge, attitudes and behaviours related to breast milk and breastfeeding of mothers who applied to Dicle University Family Medicine Polyclinic

Introduction and Objective: Successful nutrition plays a major role for healthy development of the newborn baby. Breast milk is the most ideal nutrition for babies due to providing all physiological and psychosocial needs of the baby alone during the first six months, changing contents according to the needs of the newborn, the ability to protect from infections and being economic. Breast milk is always sanitary and at the appropriate temperature, it contains all nutrients which the baby need in the first six months of life, elicits the construction of a close connection between mother and baby. Thanks to the antibodies it contains, breast milk protects the baby against disease and decrease the incidence of infections and nutritional disorders. Therefore, it is advised to breast feeding the baby as soon as possible after birth and to provide breast milk in the first six months alone, and with nutritional supplements to the age of two. The objetive of the study is to investigate the knowledge, attitudes and behaviours of mothers about breast feeding and breast milk. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted on mothers who applied to the Family Medicine Department at Dicle University School of Medicine. A total of 37 questions, including 12 questions on sociodemographic, one on educations status about breast feeding and 24 knowledge evaluations questions on breast milk and nursing were addressed to 400 individuals who approved to participate in the study. Data analysis was performed with the SPSS 22.0 package software, and p<0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Results: Totally, 400 women participated in the study. 75.8% of the participants had the knowledge of breast milk and nursing. 96% of them had the knowledge that the colostrum should be given to the baby. 95,2% of them thought that the breast milk provides all needs of the baby in the first six months. 97.5% of them had the knowledge that nursing elicits the constructions of a close connection between mother and baby.A significant association was found between education status and the knowledge on the breast milk is enough in the first six months and that elicits the construtions of a close connections between mother and baby. Conclusion: Almost all the mothers, who participated in the study, knew that colostrum must be given to baby, breast feeding elicits the constructions o a close connection between mother and baby, breast milk alone is enough in the first six months and easy to dig. It was observed that the colostrum is poor in carbohydrates and fat, and that breast feeding mothers have less postpartum homerrhage, is not at desired level. Though the mothers participating in study were well informed about breast milk and breast feeding, they were not at the desire level. Information and education on breast milk and nursing should not only be given during pregnancy, but to all mothers both before and after pregnancy.