Infant feeding in Gaza strip: mother knowledge, attitudes and practices

ABSTRACT

A clinic-based study conducted in Gaza strip, surveyed 268 mothers of infants aged 2-24 months old in five governmental clinics for breast-feeding habits of their children. The children were selected during the day of receiving vaccination or during visiting for other reasons such as when visiting clinics for follow-up appointments or for receiving tonics. Information was collected with regards to the feeding behavior of the youngest child. The data collection instrument was a self-designed semi-structural questionnaire. Results showed that the frequency of breast-feeding at some point of time was more than 92%, exclusive breast-feeding reached 38%. Eighty five percent [85%] of the mothers had been informed about the importance of breast-feeding. Conducive environment for breast-feeding at home was demonstrated through the support of surrounding people especially the grandmothers. Health system is still insufficiently supportive of breast-feeding practices since the prevalence of mothers had received support and advice from physicians and nurses post labor was 43%. The main source of information about breast-feeding was through primary health care practitioners and health education. Media represented 22% of the average of information sources. The results also showed that 46% of infants were breast-fed for less than one year. The study also found that 13% of the mothers were not interested in feeding colostrums. More than 26% had introduced solid foods before the age of 4 months. Mother's attitudes regarding the early introduction of infant formula reached almost 70% of the surveyed mothers. The reasons mentioned were that this might calm down the infants [38%] and reduce neonatal jaundice [32.5%]. The survey showed that there was a tendency to introduce solid foods both early on and late and this was significantly related to the level of awareness and duration of breast-feeding