Journal of Food Processing & Technology

Knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) of exclusive breastfeeding in the out patient clinic in the Emirates Hospital - Dubai, UAE

9^th Euro-Global Summit & Expo on Food & Beverages

July 11-13, 2016 Cologne, Germany

Haleama Al Sabbah and Ayyat Mohammad Ali

Zayed University, UAE

Posters & Accepted Abstracts: J Food Process Technol

Abstract:

Background: Breastfeeding is considered as the ultimate method of infant feeding for at least in the first six months of life. Exclusive breastfeeding stands out as the single most effective intervention for child survival. Objective: This study aims to assess exclusive breastfeeding knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) and its determinants in Dubai. Method: A cross-sectional design was used to collect data from female visitors of the out patient clinics in the Emirates Hospital- Dubai (approximately 100 participants). A self- administered questionnaire was used to collect data about participants�?? current infant feeding practices, demographic, psychological, and maternal health findings. The data was entered and analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) software version 22. Result: A total of 66 mothers participated in this study, their age ranged from (22 �?? 45) years with a mean age of 32.03 years and most of them were living in Dubai. The majority of the mothers were primiparous (n=25, 37.9%), working fulltime (n=52, 78.8%), practiced rooming in (n=56, 84.5%), and delivered normally (n=38, 57.6%). From all the participants only 31.8% (n=21) were exclusively breastfeeding. 30.3% (n=20) of the mothers reported that the main reason behind not breastfeeding was the milk production insufficiency. Most of the mothers were giving the infants water, herbs, and formula milk as soon as one month of infant�??s age. Conclusion: This study revealed that participant�??s knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of exclusive breastfeeding in the Emirates Hospital in Dubai was suboptimal. The prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding was very low (n=21, 32%). The main reason for a low rate of exclusive breastfeeding was breast milk insufficiency. The most noteworthy determinants influencing the outcome of exclusive breastfeeding can be modified by health education.

Biography :

Email: haleama@hotmail.com