Authors: Melek Koç, Gül Pınar
Purpose: This study was conducted to determine the factors affecting the exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months among mothers with children aged 0-2 years.
Design: 258 mothers with children aged 0-2 years who presented to Ankara Pediatric Hematology Oncology Training and Research Hospital Pediatric Polyclinic constituted sample of the study. A data collection form developed in line with the relevant literature was used as a data collection tool. The data collection form consists of four sections. Percentage, mean, standard deviation were used for data analysis, Mann-Whitney U test for twogroup comparisons, Pearson’s correlation analysis for three-group and multiple group comparisons, and KruskallWallis test or chi-square test of independence for relationships between variables. Statistical significance value was accepted as p<0.05.
Result: The rate of exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months is 54.3% in the study. However, exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months was found statistically significant (p <0.05) with regard to the mothers smoking, infant’s birth weight, infant’s first food, first breastfeeding time, use of pacifier and bottle, formula feeding at the hospital after delivery, attitude of the spouse and inner circle towards the breastfeeding. It was determined that the
mothers who give premature and caesarean birth started breastfeeding later (p<0.05). Approximately half of the mothers did not have adequate knowledge about infant feeding and as the knowledge score about infant feeding increased, the rate of exclusively feeding with mother’s milk during the first 6 months increased (p<0.05).
Conclusion: It was concluded in the study that the rates of the mothers feeding their babies with exclusively mother’s milk during the first six months and their knowledge levels about this matter are not adequate. Scrutinizing of the factors that are determinative on this result with more detailed studies and appropriate support and training by health workers is suggested.
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