Intention and practice on breastfeeding among pregnant mothers in Malaysia and factors associated with practice of exclusive breastfeeding: A cohort study.

<h4>Background</h4>Exclusive breastfeeding rate in Malaysia is low despite its known health benefits. This study aims to determine the prevalence of intention to breastfeed among pregnant mothers, the prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding practice after delivery, and factors associated w...

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Main Authors: Nurul Mursyidah Shohaimi, Majidah Mazelan, Kanesh Ramanathan, Mai Shahira Meor Hazizi, Yan Ning Leong, Xiang Bin Cheong, Subashini Ambigapathy, Ai Theng Cheong
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2022-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0262401
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author Nurul Mursyidah Shohaimi
Majidah Mazelan
Kanesh Ramanathan
Mai Shahira Meor Hazizi
Yan Ning Leong
Xiang Bin Cheong
Subashini Ambigapathy
Ai Theng Cheong
author_facet Nurul Mursyidah Shohaimi
Majidah Mazelan
Kanesh Ramanathan
Mai Shahira Meor Hazizi
Yan Ning Leong
Xiang Bin Cheong
Subashini Ambigapathy
Ai Theng Cheong
author_sort Nurul Mursyidah Shohaimi
collection DOAJ
description <h4>Background</h4>Exclusive breastfeeding rate in Malaysia is low despite its known health benefits. This study aims to determine the prevalence of intention to breastfeed among pregnant mothers, the prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding practice after delivery, and factors associated with exclusive breastfeeding practice.<h4>Methods</h4>This was a prospective cohort study. All pregnant women at 36 weeks gestation or above from 17 antenatal health clinics in an urban district were invited to participate in the study. A self-administered questionnaire was used, encompassing sociodemographic, breastfeeding knowledge, attitude, and intention towards the practice of breastfeeding. The participants were followed up one month post-natal for their practice of breastfeeding via telephone or during their post-natal follow-up appointment.<h4>Results</h4>483 pregnant mothers participated in the study initially. 462 (95.7%) were contactable after one month. 99.4% (459/462) of participants intended to breastfeed. 65.4% (302/462) of participants practiced exclusive breastfeeding. There was no significant association between intention and practice of exclusive breastfeeding. Multiple logistic regression analysis shows, pregnant mothers with high breastfeeding knowledge (AOR = 1.138; 95% CI 1.008-1.284) and Malay ethnicity (AOR = 2.031; 95% CI 1.066-3.868) were more likely to breastfeed their infant exclusively.<h4>Conclusions</h4>Prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding practice at one month in the studied district was 65.4%. Malay mothers and mothers with high breastfeeding knowledge were more likely to breastfeed exclusively. Thus, we recommend targeted intervention towards non-Malay mothers and increasing breastfeeding knowledge to all pregnant mothers.
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spelling doaj.art-52433d4c1f4c4766a4b306fe9bd694452022-12-21T16:58:32ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032022-01-01171e026240110.1371/journal.pone.0262401Intention and practice on breastfeeding among pregnant mothers in Malaysia and factors associated with practice of exclusive breastfeeding: A cohort study.Nurul Mursyidah ShohaimiMajidah MazelanKanesh RamanathanMai Shahira Meor HaziziYan Ning LeongXiang Bin CheongSubashini AmbigapathyAi Theng Cheong<h4>Background</h4>Exclusive breastfeeding rate in Malaysia is low despite its known health benefits. This study aims to determine the prevalence of intention to breastfeed among pregnant mothers, the prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding practice after delivery, and factors associated with exclusive breastfeeding practice.<h4>Methods</h4>This was a prospective cohort study. All pregnant women at 36 weeks gestation or above from 17 antenatal health clinics in an urban district were invited to participate in the study. A self-administered questionnaire was used, encompassing sociodemographic, breastfeeding knowledge, attitude, and intention towards the practice of breastfeeding. The participants were followed up one month post-natal for their practice of breastfeeding via telephone or during their post-natal follow-up appointment.<h4>Results</h4>483 pregnant mothers participated in the study initially. 462 (95.7%) were contactable after one month. 99.4% (459/462) of participants intended to breastfeed. 65.4% (302/462) of participants practiced exclusive breastfeeding. There was no significant association between intention and practice of exclusive breastfeeding. Multiple logistic regression analysis shows, pregnant mothers with high breastfeeding knowledge (AOR = 1.138; 95% CI 1.008-1.284) and Malay ethnicity (AOR = 2.031; 95% CI 1.066-3.868) were more likely to breastfeed their infant exclusively.<h4>Conclusions</h4>Prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding practice at one month in the studied district was 65.4%. Malay mothers and mothers with high breastfeeding knowledge were more likely to breastfeed exclusively. Thus, we recommend targeted intervention towards non-Malay mothers and increasing breastfeeding knowledge to all pregnant mothers.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0262401
spellingShingle Nurul Mursyidah Shohaimi
Majidah Mazelan
Kanesh Ramanathan
Mai Shahira Meor Hazizi
Yan Ning Leong
Xiang Bin Cheong
Subashini Ambigapathy
Ai Theng Cheong
Intention and practice on breastfeeding among pregnant mothers in Malaysia and factors associated with practice of exclusive breastfeeding: A cohort study.
PLoS ONE
title Intention and practice on breastfeeding among pregnant mothers in Malaysia and factors associated with practice of exclusive breastfeeding: A cohort study.
title_full Intention and practice on breastfeeding among pregnant mothers in Malaysia and factors associated with practice of exclusive breastfeeding: A cohort study.
title_fullStr Intention and practice on breastfeeding among pregnant mothers in Malaysia and factors associated with practice of exclusive breastfeeding: A cohort study.
title_full_unstemmed Intention and practice on breastfeeding among pregnant mothers in Malaysia and factors associated with practice of exclusive breastfeeding: A cohort study.
title_short Intention and practice on breastfeeding among pregnant mothers in Malaysia and factors associated with practice of exclusive breastfeeding: A cohort study.
title_sort intention and practice on breastfeeding among pregnant mothers in malaysia and factors associated with practice of exclusive breastfeeding a cohort study
url https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0262401
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