Background: Scientific research studies conducted during the last three decades have clearly proved that breastfeeding provides the most suitable nutrition for an infant. However in Egypt, BF is inadequately practiced due to prevailing misconceptions and cultural taboos.
Aim of the Work: This study was to assess the socio-cultural beliefs influencing breastfeeding practices among postnatal mothers in urban and rural areas of Cairo and Banha governorates respectively.
Subjects and methods: This descriptive comparative study was conducted in Cairo Governorate (represented by Al Hussein University hospital (AHUH)) as urban residents and Qaliubya Governorate represented by Banha University hospital (BUH)) as rural residents (residents of villages of Banha area), comparing the misbelieves regarding breast feeding among lactating mothers. The study population was 200 lactating healthy mothers whose babies are healthy and who were willing to participate and to come back during the study period.100 of them in Cairo at AHUH and the other 100 in Qaliubya Governorate at BUH. They were enrolled by simple random method from outpatient Pediatrics and BF clinics at AHUH (on Sunday& Wednesday weekly) and BUH (on Saturday & Tuesday weekly) during the period between December 2018 and October 2019.The research design selected for the study is descriptive comparative design. The tool used for data collection was an interview questionnaire written in local language consisting of both open and closed ended items. After obtaining the verbal consent from mothers, the validated interview questionnaire was administered to collect their socio-demographic data and to assess their socio-cultural believes on breastfeeding. The questionnaire was answered by all selected mothers individually without any support from the examiner (pre-intervention stage). Supporting correction for each misconception was declared. By the end of each session, the questionnaire was checked by the BF consultant and the professor of psychiatry who did help in counseling the mothers, and a group discussion was conducted to declare the correct answers (intervention stage). Same mothers were asked to come back after two months to assess the effect of correcting their misbelieves towards BF that influenced their knowledge, attitude and practice regarding BF by answering the same questionnaire (post-intervention stage).
Results: Total breast feeding score was improved from 57.5 in pre intervention to 76.1 in post intervention stage in rural areas, and improved from 65.6 to 76.4 in urban areas.
Conclusion: It is evident that counseling on BF is not given its importance as part of antenatal visits; Breastfeeding clinic is not a routine outpatient clinic and no mother support groups to support lactating mothers after discharge.
Recommendations: All ante-natal women should be informed about the benefits and management of BF. Health care providers also need education training on BF support and management, including pediatricians. Obstetricians should be trained well to assure fruitful antenatal education for pregnant women to practice successful BF. All post-natal mothers should be counseled based on their answers and given advice regarding BF. More support to BF outpatient clinic. Both AHUH and BUH should establish and encourage these mother support groups.