Knowledge, Attitude and Practices of Breastfeeding Among Mothers of Children Under 6 Months of Age in Suva, Fiji

Maca D. Temoirokomalani¹, Pragya Singh²* and Sabiha Khan³

¹Department of Dietetics and Nutrition, Ministry of Health and Medical Services, Fiji.

²Department of Primary Care and Nutrition, School of Public Health and Primary Care, College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Science, Fiji National University, Fiji.

³Department of Epidemiology and Environmental Health, School of Public Health and Primary Care, College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Science, Fiji National University, Fiji.

Corresponding Author Email: pragya.singh@fnu.ac.fj

Breastfeeding is a cost-effective public health approach that decreases infant and child morbidity and mortality. Fiji's exclusive breastfeeding rate was 40 percent compared to the global target of 50 percent. The research aims to evaluate mothers’ breastfeeding infants' level of knowledge, attitudes, and practice less than 6 months of age in Suva. A descriptive quantitative cross-sectional study was carried out in 3 randomly selected medical areas in Suva, Fiji. Knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) questionnaire was used to gather data from 415 mothers. The overall mean scores for breastfeeding knowledge of mothers were 12.9, the attitude was 33.7, and practice 7.20. Results showed that mothers were generally found to have good levels of knowledge and practice but a fair attitude. Knowledge was associated with the number of children that mothers had and ethnicity. Attitude had a positive correlation with household income. The practice was positively correlated with the mother's status of employment, the number of children, ethnicity, marital status, and household income. To improve breastfeeding knowledge, attitude and practices of mothers, awareness and education should be strengthened in all health facilities. Improvement in health education materials and advocacy is required.

Attitude; Breastfeeding; Knowledge; Mothers; Practice

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