Knowledge and practices of women in Monastir, Tunisia regarding breastfeeding

We assessed the prevalence of breastfeeding and its determinants and mothers' knowledge and practices towards this issue among 354 women attending primary health centres for their child's 6- month vaccination in the region of Monastir in 2008. The mean age of the women was 30 [SD 5.5] years. Most [90.8%] knew that breastfeeding helped prevent infections in babies but only 38.5% knew that breast milk supplies all infant feeding needs until 6 months of age. While was 94.4% breastfed their babies to start, only 1.9% continued exclusive breastfeeding until 6 months. Main reasons for stopping breastfeeding were perceived breast milk insufficiency followed by return to work. Exclusive breastfeeding over 3 months was associated with skin-to-skin contact [OR = 1.93; 95% CI: 1.016-3.69] and mothers' knowledge about breast milk benefits [OR = 2.8; 95% CI: 1.2-6.6] Early weaning was related to using pacifiers and breast-milk substitutes [OR = 0.17; 95% CI: 0.08-0.36 and OR = 0.14; 95% CI: 0.05-0.38 respectively]

Mother's knowledge and practices in the region of Monastir [Tunisia] in front of childhood fever

Fever is a frequent infant symptom it is among the primary causes of infants morbidity in developing countries. ln Tunisia, fever constitutes a frequent motive for ambulatory consultation and hospitalization Knowledge and practices of mother to face fever conditioning party its issue. In this regard this survey aims at studying knowledge; attitudes and practices of mother facing fever in order to set up educational strategy adapted to the concerned population it is a descriptive cross study of 491 mothers who have consulted the centres of primary healthcare and centres of maternal and infantile protection of 9 delegations in the district of Monastir from 1[st] July up to 15 September 2006. Results have demonstrated that the average age of mothers was 28,5 +/- 5 years with a medium level c instruction and socio-professional. Among the questioned mothers, 80% define fever at a temperature of 38°C and 97.35% know at list one sign of gravity [convulsion is recognized by 56.2% of mothers]. 82.7% know how to measure the rectal temperature, 91.6% use physical means and 88.2% resort substances available at home to reduce temperature 34.3% of mothers have recourse to doctor temperature is diminished Principals determining knowledge and practices of mothers are the instruction and profession of the parents [p<0.01], the number of lived infants and health care education [p<0.05], We can deduce from the study that the knowledge of mothers is quite good. However many efforts are still required to promote the saint practices of mothers