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2026, Vol: 10, Issue: 6
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Original Research 


Mother's breastfeeding knowledge, barriers and practices: a descriptive survey

Shatha Saleh Al Harbi, Syed Irfan Karim, Saleh Suliman Al Harbi, Afnan Abdullah Almalki, Atheer Mohammed Aljeraibah, Shahad Mohammed Aljeraibah, Nada Ahmad Alsomali, Ruba Mahmoud Barnawi.


Abstract
Background: Breastfeeding (BF) is necessary and of core importance for both infants as well as for the mother.
Methodology: In this descriptive analytic cross-sectional study, convenience sampling method was used to select the study sample during the year 2016–2017. A structured questionnaire was administered to 497 mothers attending the well-baby clinic at a large tertiary care hospital located in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, along with chi-square test and analysis of variance.
Results: Majority (62.3%) mothers were BF and knew about exclusive BF (EBF) (54.2%). Almost half (48%) continued BF for more than 1 year. Health of the infant was identified as the primary reason by majority of mothers to breastfeed (81%) and the most identified reasons for stopping BF during the first 2 years were inadequate breast milk (33%) where baby was not satisfied after feeding (20%) and too tiring to feed (19%). A significant association was found between the employment status of mothers and the duration of BF, initiation of BF and knowledge about the recommended months to only breastfeed. Similarly, monthly income was found to be statistically significant for knowledge about EBF.
Conclusion: A high proportion of the mothers practiced BF. However, working status was a barrier to continuing it. Policies for more extended maternity leave and workplace child care centers can be a solution. Encouraging mothers to continue to breastfeed after they return to work might help.

Key words: Breastfeeding, Exclusive breastfeeding, Breast milk, Feeding


 
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How to Cite this Article
Pubmed Style

Harbi SSA, Karim SI, Harbi SSA, Almalki AA, Aljeraibah AM, Aljeraibah SM, Alsomali NA, Barnawi RM. Mother's breastfeeding knowledge, barriers and practices: a descriptive survey. IJMDC. 2018; 2(May 2018): 59-64. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1527188866

Web Style

Harbi SSA, Karim SI, Harbi SSA, Almalki AA, Aljeraibah AM, Aljeraibah SM, Alsomali NA, Barnawi RM. Mother's breastfeeding knowledge, barriers and practices: a descriptive survey. https://www.ijmdc.com/?mno=300150 [Access: June 27, 2026]. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1527188866

AMA (American Medical Association) Style

Harbi SSA, Karim SI, Harbi SSA, Almalki AA, Aljeraibah AM, Aljeraibah SM, Alsomali NA, Barnawi RM. Mother's breastfeeding knowledge, barriers and practices: a descriptive survey. IJMDC. 2018; 2(May 2018): 59-64. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1527188866


Vancouver/ICMJE Style

Harbi SSA, Karim SI, Harbi SSA, Almalki AA, Aljeraibah AM, Aljeraibah SM, Alsomali NA, Barnawi RM. Mother's breastfeeding knowledge, barriers and practices: a descriptive survey. IJMDC. (2018), [cited June 27, 2026]; 2(May 2018): 59-64. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1527188866


Harvard Style

Harbi, S. S. A., Karim, . S. I., Harbi, . S. S. A., Almalki, . A. A., Aljeraibah, . A. M., Aljeraibah, . S. M., Alsomali, . N. A. & Barnawi, . R. M. (2018) Mother's breastfeeding knowledge, barriers and practices: a descriptive survey. IJMDC, 2 (May 2018), 59-64. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1527188866


Turabian Style

Harbi, Shatha Saleh Al, Syed Irfan Karim, Saleh Suliman Al Harbi, Afnan Abdullah Almalki, Atheer Mohammed Aljeraibah, Shahad Mohammed Aljeraibah, Nada Ahmad Alsomali, and Ruba Mahmoud Barnawi. 2018. Mother's breastfeeding knowledge, barriers and practices: a descriptive survey. International Journal of Medicine in Developing Countries, 2 (May 2018), 59-64. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1527188866


Chicago Style

Harbi, Shatha Saleh Al, Syed Irfan Karim, Saleh Suliman Al Harbi, Afnan Abdullah Almalki, Atheer Mohammed Aljeraibah, Shahad Mohammed Aljeraibah, Nada Ahmad Alsomali, and Ruba Mahmoud Barnawi. "Mother's breastfeeding knowledge, barriers and practices: a descriptive survey." International Journal of Medicine in Developing Countries 2 (2018), 59-64. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1527188866


MLA (The Modern Language Association) Style

Harbi, Shatha Saleh Al, Syed Irfan Karim, Saleh Suliman Al Harbi, Afnan Abdullah Almalki, Atheer Mohammed Aljeraibah, Shahad Mohammed Aljeraibah, Nada Ahmad Alsomali, and Ruba Mahmoud Barnawi. "Mother's breastfeeding knowledge, barriers and practices: a descriptive survey." International Journal of Medicine in Developing Countries 2.May 2018 (2018), 59-64. Print. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1527188866


APA (American Psychological Association) Style

Harbi, S. S. A., Karim, . S. I., Harbi, . S. S. A., Almalki, . A. A., Aljeraibah, . A. M., Aljeraibah, . S. M., Alsomali, . N. A. & Barnawi, . R. M. (2018) Mother's breastfeeding knowledge, barriers and practices: a descriptive survey. International Journal of Medicine in Developing Countries, 2 (May 2018), 59-64. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1527188866




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