“LIQUID LOVE: EXPLORING MATERNAL INSIGHT REGARDING BREASTFEEDING IN WESTERN MAHARASHTRA-A CROSS SECTIONAL STUDY.”

Abstract

Background: Breastfeeding offers nutritional, immunological, and emotional benefits while strengthening the bond between mother and infant. It is crucial for mothers to be well-informed about these advantages to promote healthy breastfeeding practices. Our study aims to assess mother’s awareness and perception of breastfeeding and to determine the various factors related to mother’s knowledge of breastfeeding.

Methods: This cross-sectional study carried out in the rural and urban field practice areas of a medical college located in Western Maharashtra and involved postnatal mothers residing within the region. Data were gathered through in-person interviews using a prepared, semi-structured questionnaire. The collected data was entered into Microsoft Excel and analysed using SPSS Version 27 software. Descriptive statistics such as frequencies and percentages were used to summarize the data. P-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results: Among the postnatal mothers surveyed, a high level of awareness (88%) regarding the benefits of breastfeeding was observed. Healthcare providers and family/friends were the main sources of this information. While the majority of mothers (90%) understood the advantages for their infants, fewer were aware of the benefits for themselves or their families. The most frequently cited difficulties were perceived low milk production (27%) and sore nipples (25%). Furthermore, the length of breastfeeding was linked to the mother's education and occupation.

Conclusions: Most mothers were aware of breastfeeding benefits for babies, but awareness of maternal and family benefits was limited. Education and occupation influenced breastfeeding duration. Despite this knowledge, issues like sore nipples and insufficient milk supply were common experiences.