Background & objectives: Breastfeeding is an ideal infant feeding method that has been practiced since ancient times. For the past four decades, there has been a sharp decline in breastfeeding practices due to rapid expansion of milk technology, modernization and influence of various media. Considering these facts, the present study was planned to assess the knowledge, attitude and practices of breastfeeding among mothers in study area which may help in improving exclusive breastfeeding rate and indirectly reduce the morbidity and mortality associated.
Methods: A hospital based observational descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in RG Kar Medical College and Medical College Kolkata, two tertiary care hospital of West Bengal. The study subjects were 300 mothers of children aged from 1 day to 2 years who attended Paediatrics and Obstetrics and Gynaecology inpatient and outpatient departments of these 2 hospitals from January 2021 to December 2021. A structured interviewer administered questionnaire was used to collect data.
Results: About 92% mothers had knowledge about correct positioning during breastfeeding. Bottle feeding and prelacteal feeds were practiced by nearly 30% mothers.
Conclusions: The study population had poor knowledge about breastfeeding. Also there was notable lack of attitude and practice of breastfeeding.
Key words: Attitude, Breastfeeding, Knowledge, Practice, West Bengal
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