Evaluation of factors related to the maternal breastfeeding knowledge, attitude towards it and intention to breastfeed

Aim: to identify the factors related to the maternal breastfeeding knowledge, attitude towards it and intention to breastfeed. Objectives: 1) to determine social and demographic characteristics of women who have given birth and their peculiarities of pregnancy and childbirth; 2) to assess women’s breastfeeding knowledge; 3) to determine women’s attitude towards breastfeeding and their intention to breastfeed; 4) to identify the association between the analyzed factors and the maternal breastfeeding knowledge, attitude towards it and intention to breastfeed. Methods: The research was carried out in a Hospital of Lithuanian University of Health Sciences Kauno Klinikos, Obstetrics and Gynaecology clinic, between the 1st March and the 1st July of 2018. Women who have given birth have completed an anonymous questionnaire consisting of 30 questions. Scales were used to evaluate knowledge, attitude and intention. In total, 253 women completed the questionnaire (95.5% of the sample). Categorical variables were tested usingthe Chi square criterion (χ2) and the z test with Bonferroni correction. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate association of women’s breastfeeding knowledge, attitude towards it and intention to breastfeed with social and demographic factors, peculiarities of pregnancy and childbirth, and current breastfeeding practice. Results: Almost half (47.8%) of the women were over 30 years old, the majority were married or living in a partnership (94.9%), had a higher education (68.4%), were living in a big city (54.2%), had a job (84.6%) and were not experiencing any economic difficulties (94.8%). They gave birth in time on natural birth pathways. Usually it was the first or the second baby. Most of the participants had no harmful habits. More than half (58.9%) of women said they had breastfeeding experience before, 56.1% of respondents indicated that they did not attend a pregnancy school during pregnancy, but 84.2% replied being familiar with breastfeeding during pregnancy. The most frequently cited source of information was television, internet and books (40.3%). Women were more aware of the benefits of breastfeeding to the health of the newborn/baby than to the benefits of the mother. Two thirds (66.0%) of respondents indicated that they were breastfeeding their newborns in the birth room. Most of the participants (80.6%) had planned to use the exclusive breastfeeding up to 6 months after the birth (64.4%). More than half (68.8%) of the respondents indicated that breastfeeding was more comfortable than feeding with formula, and babies fed with breast milk were healthier than formula fed babies (65.6%). However, only a little more than half of the respondents (64.4%) were satisfied with their breastfeeding skills and only 64.0% women could successfully identify whether the newborn received enough milk. Women's knowledge of breastfeeding and attitude towards it were associated mostly with education. The attitude of those women who attended the pregnancy school was more favourable than those who did not. Women who gave birth to the first newborn and had no breastfeeding experience were more likely to have confidence in breastfeeding comparing with opposite groups. Conclusions: The majority of respondents who have given birth had enough knowledge about the benefits of breastfeeding; higher educated women had better breastfeeding knowledge. Attitude towards breastfeeding were favourable for the majority of women and their relatives. Majority of women were going to continue breastfeeding for up to 6 months. Women with no breastfeeding experience were more confident in breastfeeding. Attendance at pregnancy schools led to a more favourable attitude of women towards breastfeeding