Cultural and Physical Factors Affecting Discontinuation of Exclusive Breastfeeding among Primipara Women.

Osman Mohamed, Eman; Mossa, Sahar; Abd El Hamid, Nadia; Fatthy, Amal

doi:10.21608/ejhc.2022.260895

Cultural and Physical Factors Affecting Discontinuation of Exclusive Breastfeeding among Primipara Women.

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Faculty of Nursing, Sohag University

² Professor of maternity and gynecological Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Ain shams University

³ Assistant professor of maternity and gynecological Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Ain shams University

10.21608/ejhc.2022.260895

Abstract

Exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) is defined as the practice of providing only breast-milk for an infant for the
first 6 months of life without the addition of any other food or water, which recommends initiation of
breastfeeding within one hour of life and continued breastfeeding for up to 2 years of age or more
accordingly and it is the foundation of child survival and health, The aim of the Study: The present study
aims to assess culture and physical factors affecting discontinuation of exclusive breastfeeding among
primipara women. Design: A descriptive study was used. Setting: The current study was conducted at the
breastfeeding clinic at Maternity Hospital Ain Shams University, because it had increased the flow rate and
availability of the sample needed to fulfill the registration in the study. Sample: A Convenient sample of
250 Primipara women was recruited on the study. Data collection tools: A Structured Interviewing
questionnaire schedule. Results: The result of the present study reveals that the physical factors, 66.0% and
55.2% of the studied sample reported that Breast problems and complications during and after childbirth
respectively .cultural factors 83.2%, 64.8% and 54.8% of the studied sample mentioned that advice from
family members or friends, inadequate milk supply and mentioned Modern formulas as nearly the same as
breast milk respectively and 65.6% of the studied women had incorrect knowledge .Conclusion: Factors
affecting discontinuation of exclusive breastfeeding among primipara women are about two fifths of
studied women reported that the physical factors and more than one third of studied women had culture
factors and less than two thirds of the studied women had incorrect knowledge about exclusive
breastfeeding . Recommendations: Raise awareness about the knowledge of exclusive breastfeeding using
mass media. Breastfeeding promotion programs should work hard to raise maternal awareness about the
importance of exclusive breastfeeding.

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