RESUMO
Assess the knowledge, attitude and practice of breastfeeding among women attending the Gulf Medical College Hospital and Research Center in Ajman, UAE. A cross sectional study was conducted between February 2012 and April 2012. The study included 332 mothers who had at least one child under 5 years of age and who attended GMCHRC during the study period. A validated, pilot-tested, self-administered questionnaire was used which included statements dealing with information on knowledge, attitude and practice of participants with regard to breast feeding in addition to demographic data. To assess knowledge and attitudes of participants, the percentage of correct responses for each question was considered. Inadequate knowledge [gap in the knowledge] or attitude was identified if <60% of participants had correct response for each question. Data were analyzed using the SPSS software version 19. Chi square test was done to find the significance of association between variables with less than 0.05 level of significance. adequate knowledge about most of breast feeding facts and benefits was identified, except for the statements that lactation helps losing weight that was gained during pregnancy, the hormones released during breast feeding help in bringing back the uterus to its normal physiology after child birth, and the ideal duration of excusive breastfeeding is six months. More than 60% of the participants responded positive to all attitudes questions except to one on their willingness to attend classes for education on breast feeding [77.9% of the participants did not want to attend]. Only 46% of the participants exclusively breastfed their babies in the first six months. Higher proportion of women who had received antenatal education during their pregnancy exclusively breast fed their babies, but the association was not statistically significant. A higher frequency of exclusive breastfeeding was observed with low parity. Higher frequency of breast feeding was noticed among women who had not experienced any difficulties in breastfeeding [P>0.05] and who had not sought medical advice on problems during breast feeding [p<0.05]. Family and friends were identified to be the main source of information with regard to breastfeeding [reported by 74.7%]. Participants had adequate knowledge with regard to the benefits of breast feeding and those who received antenatal education practiced exclusive breast feeding. For the majority the source of information was family and friends