Table 2 Mothers’ knowledge of exclusive breastfeeding (n = 190)
Variable | Frequency (%) |
|---|---|
First food for the newborn is breastmilk | 186 (97.9) |
Exclusive breastfeeding is giving the child breastmilk for the first 6 months | 140 (73.7) |
Babies should take only breastmilk for the first 6 months of their life | 149 (78.4) |
Breastmilk only is sufficient for the baby’s first 6 months of life | 149 (78.4) |
The baby should be breastfed on demand | 177 (93.2) |
Has knowledge on the benefits of exclusive breastfeeding to the baby | 182 (95.8) |
Exclusive breastfeeding is beneficial to the mother | 168 (88.4) |
Breastmilk supply can be sustained by having good nutrition/eating well | 162 (85.3) |
In times of absence the baby can continue to be exclusively breastfed by expressing breastmilk and storing | 21 (11.1) |
Health personnel can assists in overcoming breastfeeding difficulties | 131 (68.9 %) |
Knowledge categorya | |
High (>70 %) | 87 (45.8) |
Mean ± SD Knowledge score (maximum score = 20) | 13.95 ± 2.83 |