Determination of Knowledge and Correct Breastfeeding Practices of Mothers in Early Postpartum Period

Background: It is important to increase the awareness and knowledge of mothers about the right breastfeeding practices and to be discharged from hospital by acquiring the right breastfeeding habits. Objective: This study was aimed to examine the knowledge and correct breastfeeding practices of mothers in early postpartum period. Material and Methods: This crosssectional study carried out among 183 mothers who stayed in postpartum unit between the months of April and July in 2016. Demographic data survey instrument and a structured questionnaire were used to collect data. Results: It was found that 47.5% of the participants was at or above the age of 31, 57.4% were graduates of high school and 60.7% did not work. Mean score of the mothers obtained from knowledge score about breastfeeding, breast milk and usefulnesses of breastfeeding was 6.377(±2.222); mean score of them obtained from the correct breastfeeding practices was 9.016(±2.786). The fifty-six point three percentage of the participants for the statement of "the mother should not force the infant and retry later if the infant refuses to take supplementary food after six months" in breastfeeding knowledge questionnaire were correctly answered; 90.2% of the participants "evaluated the success of breastfeeding" correctly. Conclusion: Although we found that most of the participants employed proper breastfeeding practices, their knowledge on several aspects of breastfeeding was poor. By the help of nurses and midwives, it is important to ensure that mothers demonstrate the correct and effective breastfeeding behaviors by having correct knowledge of breastfeeding in early postpartum period.