EXCLUSIVE BREASTFEEDING AMONG THE PREGNANT WOMEN: A STUDY ON GYNECOLOGICAL OUTPATIENT DEPARTMENT IN DMCH

Breastfeeding is the simplest, healthiest, and least expensive feeding method that fulfills the infants' needs all over the world though in many countries people lack the proper knowledge of breastfeeding. The numerous benefits of breastfeeding are of public health relevance for developing countries as well as for industrialized nations. To identify the level of mothers' knowledge about exclusive breast feeding who are attending in gynecological outpatient department at Dhaka Medical College and Hospital. A cross-sectional study was carried out to determine the knowledge about exclusive breastfeeding among pregnant women, which was conducted through face to face interviews, by using a questionnaire with the informed consent of the participants. Data were numerically coded and captured in Excel. Among the participants (200), 43% completed primary education, 23% S.S.C pass, 21% of mothers passing H.S.C+ above degree, and 13% were illiterate. Most of the mothers who completed secondary and higher secondary education level have good knowledge about the benefits and advantages of exclusive breastfeeding for baby’s health with growth and development. In conclusion, it has been realized that millions of children die worldwide each year because of faulty or lack of knowledge regarding the benefits of breastfeeding and the initiation of proper weaning at the correct time. These sufferings were unnecessary and preventable. Adequate measures should be taken to aware of the women regarding this issue.