Mothers' knowledge and practices on exclusive breastfeeding and early weaning in children under six months of age

Abstract

The main objective of the research was to explore the knowledge and practices that mothers possess on exclusive breastfeeding and early weaning in children under six months, who attended the San Rafael Obrajuelo Department of Peace Health Unit from January to July 2004. The study focused on describing the presence of the problem and the frequency with which it was occurring; The sample was 109 mothers breastfeeding children under six months; the instruments used were questionnaires containing 28 open questions and the observation guide with 15 aspects to be observed, which was provided to 43 mothers in home visits. The results obtained showed that 68.81% of mothers do not know the advantages of breastfeeding, 92.66% of mothers do not know the nutritional difference of breast milk and milk formulas, 79.07% Of them do not perform hygiene on the nipples before breastfeeding the baby, 99.08% do not know any legal entity that supports or promotes compliance with breastfeeding, 22.18% stated that their children are not filled only with the breast so they practice early weaning feeding them with milk formulas before six months. It was also found that 53.21% of mothers only eat toasted tortilla, dry cheese and chocolate during the postpartum period, because they believe that it will make their blood sick and make the baby sick, if they eat other foods.