Abstract

Background and Aims:
Assessing the knowledge and beliefs of pregnant women regarding the effect of obesity on breastfeeding continuation is crucial in understanding potential barriers to successful breastfeeding amongst this demographic. This study aims to evaluate pregnant women’s knowledge and beliefs about the effect of obesity on breastfeeding continuation.

Methods:
A descriptive cross-sectional design was adopted. The sample of 550 pregnant women was purposively selected whether primiparous or multi-pregnant, aged 20-39 years in the second or third trimester of pregnancy. The study was carried out within second-cluster hospitals in the Riyadh region. The tools used to collect the necessary data were; a structured interviewing questionnaire, a structured obesity knowledge tool, and a Likert belief scale regarding the effect of obesity on breastfeeding continuation.

Results:
The mean age was 29.47 ± 8.6 years. About 57.8% of the study sample had an unsatisfactory level of knowledge about the effect of obesity on breastfeeding continuation compared to 42.2% who had a satisfactory level of knowledge. While 87.6% of the study sample had positive beliefs regarding the effect of obesity on breastfeeding continuation, 12.4% had negative beliefs. Amongst the study sample, no statistically significant relationship was found between the belief and knowledge categories regarding the effect of obesity on breastfeeding continuation (P < 0.05).

Conclusion:
The pregnant women had an unsatisfactory level of knowledge and positive beliefs regarding the effect of obesity on breastfeeding continuation. It was Recommended to deliver individualized education for obese pregnant women to cope with difficulties and misunderstandings regarding breastfeeding. Integrate obesity-specific breastfeeding interventions into public health, media and electronic communication, and hospital policies and practices.

Key words: Knowledge, beliefs, obesity, breastfeeding