Impact of Hospital Breast Feeding Awareness Among Lactating Mothers in Maternal and Children Hospital, AL-Hassa, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

BACKGROUND & AIM- Insufficient knowledge and practice of breastfeeding may have serious disadvantages both on mother and child health. This study explores methods used in MCH based breastfeeding awareness program, level of benefit gained by newly delivered mothers after receiving the awareness, and the impact of mother’s sociodemographic on the level of perceived benefit gained by them. SUBJECTS & METHODS- A prospective cross-sectional study applying random sampling technique was established. A self-administered questionnaire was distributed targeting newly delivered mother in maternal and child hospital in Al-Hassa, Saudi Arabia. It included two main parts- socio-demographic characteristics of the mothers, and questions related to the hospital breastfeeding awareness program. RESULTS- from the overall sample, hospital awareness was received by 47.5% of newly delivered mothers. The most common method to provide the knowledge was the Verbal demonstration representing 50% of the mothers. They were followed by brochures representing 39% and last, audios constituting only 3.6%. From these methods, the verbal demonstration showed to be the one with the highest level of satisfaction and benefit reaching up to 85%. CONCLUSION- Breastfeeding awareness has a significant impact among both newly and non-newly delivered mothers with Hospitals playing a major role in this health education. The choice of method to provide breastfeeding awareness can contribute to the compliance of mothers as well as the level of their benefit and satisfaction.