Awareness of Libyan Mothers About Child Feeding Practices in Benghazi, Libya

Abstract

Objective: The study aimed to assess the infant and child feeding practices and some aspects of knowledge and attitudes of mothers attending immunization clinics at maternal and child health care clinics (MCH) in Benghazi about breastfeeding and weaning. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study undertaken at child clinics in Benghazi, Libya 2007 -2008. Eleven clinics were chosen by use of simple random sampling. A total of 577 mothers were interviewed. Results: 89.0% of mothers were breastfed their baby and 11.0 % were used bottle fed at birth, 44.3% initiate breastfeeding at 1sth half an hour after birth, only 25.2% exclusively breastfed (EBF) their babies for the first 4-6 months, and 38.0 % of mothers continue breast feeding up to 24 months. More than eighty percent of women thought that breastfeeding is important. Conclusion: Although the study revealed that majority of mothers practiced breastfeeding at birth, and they had good knowledge and satisfactory attitude toward breastfeeding, but the study reported that more than half of mothers-initiated breast feeding late and poor practice of exclusively breastfed for 4-6 months. Training program for doctors and nurses and implantation of baby friendly hospitals initiatives.