Journal of Community Medicine & Health Education
Open Access

Abstract

Background: Malnutrition in children is still a major public health problem in most developing countries such as Burkina Faso. IYCF practice should be influenced by knowledge and attitude about the subject. Material and Method: We carried out a cross-sectional study in primary health care centers randomly selected. The objectives of our work were to study knowledge and attitudes about IYCF and analyze associated factors. Result: In total, we surveyed 287 mothers. Average age of mothers was 26.7 years [17-45], 71.4% of them were uneducated and 94.5% were unemployed. The average number of gestures among mothers was 3.44[1-11]. Among mothers, 15% was in underweight and 10.7% was in excess weight. Most mothers (82, 8%) admitted that colostrum has an advantage for the newborn and 87.8% were aware of the proper diet (exclusive breastfeeding) of children under six months of age. Slightly more than half (55%) of mothers had a low level of knowledge about the benefits of breastfeeding. Water supply (p=0.041) and habitat type (p = 0.001) were statistically associated with the level of knowledge about the benefits of breastfeeding. About half (54%) of respondents were aware of the recommended delay of breastfeeding initiation in postpartum. Feeding in disease situation was known by the majority of mothers just as breastfeeding at night. About one in five mothers (18.5%) reported that children under six months of age need water supplementation. The discomfort to breastfeed in public was an unusual feeling (6%) and 87, 2% of respondents admitted that breastfeeding should be continued until the age of two years after birth. Conclusion: Mother�s knowledge about the advantage of breastfeeding was still low, however we found a good level of knowledge about exclusive and duration of breastfeeding. Attitudes towards breastfeeding were positives. Targeted interventions on maternal health services and communities could raise the level of knowledge on IYCF.

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