KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE, AND PRACTICE OF SAUDI WOMEN IN RIYADH CITY TOWARDS BREASTFEEDING

Background: Absence or limited knowledge about importance of breastfeeding may lead to unwanted consequences. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the attitude and knowledge of Saudi mothers towards breastfeeding. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in Aleman hospital, Riyadh city, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), started from first November 2016 to 29 December 2016. The questionnaire was collected from 774 Saudi mothers were attended this hospital, for visiting clinics and departments. Our study was excluding all non-Saudi women. The questionnaire was created in Arabic and completed by women. Data were analyzed by using Excel program, p-value <0.05 was used as description for significant different. Result: Out of 744 mothers with average age (33.87 ± 8.13). Most mothers at high educational level (74.58%, P<0.001). (43.72%) have four or more children. High percentage mothers have knowledge that breastfeeding prevent a child from infectious and allergic (53.75%, p<0.001), and it strengthen social bond between mother and her baby (94%). Mothers who exclusively breastfeed them babies for one to six months (47%). Most important reason for stopping breastfeeding was insufficient milk (30%, p