Published Paper Details:

Breastfeeding is the most ideal and valuable nourishment for the child growing & development for the most of the nutritional requirements it is given adequately and appropriate manner. Breastfeeding is very important for both infants and mothers, it is globally recognized. Breast feeding practices are the practices which focus on early initiation of breast feeding (within one hour after birth), exclusive breast-feeding for the first 6 months (180 days), introduction of home-made energy dense complementary feeds only after 6 months, continued breast-feeding for at least 2 years. Appropriate feeding practices are essential for optimal growth, cognitive development, and overall wellbeing in early vulnerable years of life. However, the present study has conducted to determine the level of perceptions towards breastfeeding among postnatal women, to examine the level of practices towards breastfeeding among postnatal women, to study the factors associated with different level of perceptions and practices regarding breastfeeding among postnatal women and to examine the relationship between perceptions & practices about breastfeeding among postnatal women.This study was a non-experimental descriptive cross-sectional study was used to examine the postnatal women perceptions and practices regarding breastfeeding. This study was conducted in Khulna Medical College Hospital at labour ward & pediatric ward. The target populations of this study were postnatal women who are feed breastfeeding for their babies up to 2 years. The sample size was calculated by power analysis (400) Simple random sampling was use for data collection. Data were collected from primary and secondary sources. Primary data were collected from the respondent of the study area. Secondary data were collected from the secondary sources. The data collection tool was divided into three parts. Part one was postnatal mothers' Demographic Data Form; Part two was postnatal women perceptions regarding breastfeeding questionnaire; and Part three was Practice regarding breastfeeding questionnaire. Data were analyzed by using Statistical package for the Social sciences (SPSS) version 21. Frequencies, Percentage, Means, and Standard deviations were used for demographic variables and to describe the scores of the study variables. Postnatal women who are feed breastfeeding for their babies up to 2 years were included in the study. Patients who have all risk factors of diabetic except women who are feed breastfeeding for their babies up to 2 years were excluded in the study. This study found poor knowledge and practices on breast feeding among mothers. Female education should be increased substantially and hence more job opportunities could be created in various dimensional job sectors for them. This study also suggested that social safety net program could play an important role to increase knowledge and practices on breast feeding among mothers. Malnutrition will be decreased if breast feeding was widely established. Major concerns were inadequate knowledge on advantages of breastfeeding, frequency of breastfeeding, and storage of breast milk. The findings showed that limited education was a major factor for lack of knowledge about breastfeeding compared with other factors such as marital status, family income, and age. This study provides important information to improving knowledge and practices on breast feeding in removing malnutrition from Bangladesh.