Knowledge, attitude and practice of breastfeeding in the north of Jordan: a cross-sectional study

Breastfeeding rates vary in different countries. Little is known about breastfeeding and barriers women experience in the Middle East [1‐4]. In addition, information is scant on how organizations can best promote breastfeeding in Jordan, a small economically disadvantaged developing country in southwestern Asia. To improve rates of full breastfeeding, specific information about the beliefs and practices that influence this outcome is needed. The current study was designed to evaluate practice, knowledge and attitude to breastfeeding and to assess factors associated with breastfeeding among women in the north of Jordan.

A cross-sectional study was conducted between 15 July 2003 and 15 August 2003 among women residing in the north of Jordan. Considering the population size, geographic location, and the number of families, according to the National Department of Statistics, the study population consisted of 20 clusters. The study sampled 5 clusters out of these 20 (i.e. one fourth of the total number of clusters). The included clusters represented the whole 20 clusters of the Irbid Governorate, which are mainly semi-urban communities. The 5 selected clusters were chosen using systematic sampling technique. The proportion of ever-married women in the age group 15–49, as estimated by the Ministry of Health in 2000, was 55% [5]. For a sample size of 344 married women who had at least one child aged between 6 months and 3 years, the calculated power exceeded 80%, with 95% confidence that the true proportion of mothers that reported full breastfeeding is within ± 10% of the expected 50% proportion. Sample size was calculated using EPI-Info, 2002.

It was calculated that 625 households were needed to interview 344 married women. Having assumed that in every two households with married women one would have a targeted child, the number of households to be visited was doubled to 1250. Using systematic sampling technique (every 5^th cluster), primary sampling units of 5 clusters were selected. The households to be visited in each cluster were calculated using the "proportionate to size" method.

The data were collected by trained fourth year medical students from the Jordan University for Science and Technology. They were instructed on interview techniques and were familiar with the geography of these clusters. Oral consents were obtained from all participants and all approached women agreed to participate. The study was approved by the Scientific Research Board of the Jordan University of Science and Technology.

A structured questionnaire with 32 items was used. It covered demographic variables that included mother's age, mother's education, father's education, mother's employment status, total family income, family's size, mode of delivery, gender of last child, and history of neonatal hospitalization. Breastfeeding was divided into three types: full breastfeeding which included exclusive and almost exclusive breastfeeding for a duration of 6 months (exclusive breastfeeding when no other liquid or solid from any other source entered the infant's mouth, while almost exclusive breastfeeding when occasional tastes of other liquids, traditional foods, vitamins, medicines were allowed), mixed breastfeeding when infants received both artificial formula and breastfeeding, and exclusive bottlefeeding when infants received only artificial formula after 2 weeks of life. All mothers were asked questions regarding their main reasons for either breastfeeding or bottlefeeding.

Questions with five-point Likert rating scale, from strongly disagree to strongly agree were used to assess women's knowledge and attitude to breastfeeding. The original Likert rating scale was converted to 100% scale by multiplying the corresponding coefficients (i.e. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5) by 20. A higher score indicated a higher participant's agreement with the item tested. Items testing knowledge included recommended breastfeeding duration, its benefit in decreasing the risk of acquiring diarrhea and its role in contraception. Questions that evaluated mothers' attitude included mother's comfort with breastfeeding, cost, effect on care of other family members and effect on marital relationship. Items that tested community's attitude toward breastfeeding included feeling shy of breastfeeding in public places, role of community nurses and medical staff in encouraging breastfeeding, duration of maternity leave and facilitation of breastfeeding at work places.

The Statistical Package for Social Sciences software (SPSS, version 11.5, Chicago. Inc) and Microsoft Office Excel 2003 were used for data processing and statistical analysis. Variables were described using frequency distribution for categorical variables and mean and standard deviation for continuous variables. The distribution of infant feeding practices by independent variables was tested using the Chi-square test. Factors associated with not practicing full breastfeeding were identified using univariate and multivariate logistic regression. Crude odds ratios and adjusted odds ratios and their 95% confidence intervals were reported. A p-value of less than 0.05 was considered significant.

This cross-sectional study demonstrated an initiation rate of breastfeeding of 88.6%. Over 58% were full and over 30% were mixed breastfeeders. These rates are higher than those reported in the USA for the same ages [6] but less than those reported in other Middle Eastern countries [2]. This may reflect a difference in the socio-economic and cultural status. In Jordan less-educated women were more likely to breastfeed than women with higher education levels. In contrast, education had a positive effect on breastfeeding in Western communities and developed countries [7, 8].

The current study showed that factors associated with not practicing full breastfeeding were mothers' working status and delivery by caesarean section, where mothers rarely care for their babies in the first 2 days post-operatively. In Jordan there are only 3 hospitals that are accredited as being Baby Friendly. In contrast, in Lebanon, a Middle Eastern country with a similar population size and economic status, there are 21 such hospitals [9]. Hospitals and work places without facilities for breastfeeding can be detrimental for breastfeeding. Cohen and Mrtek showed that women employed by businesses that are "breastfeeding friendly" were able to maintain a breastfeeding regimen for at least six months at rates comparable to the rate of women who are not employed outside home [10].

Governmental policies regarding longer leave for new mothers and child care centers inside large institutions should be considered. The participants in this study were not satisfied with the length of their leave and they did not think that workplaces provided the right environment for successful breastfeeding.

Breastfeeding should be linked to public health education for the whole community. In an American survey, Li et al. [11] showed that the overall population approved breastfeeding in public places and that establishing work place breastfeeding policy and lactation rooms were the most acceptable modes for promoting breastfeeding. The participants in our study felt shy to breastfeed in public places. Consideration should be given to providing privacy to nursing mothers in both working and public places.

Almost 77% of the participants reported that the main reason for breastfeeding was "better for child's health". Media programs that emphasize the advantages of breastfeeding over infant formula feeding are probably the key point in spreading this practice. One major cause of infant formula feeding in the current study was related to mothers' concern that their milk was not sufficient (33%). Studies throughout the world have identified that concern about milk supply is the most common reason women give for stopping breastfeeding [12, 13]. Education for women regarding time needed for colostrum to change to transitional milk and education regarding ways of successful breastfeeding can be valuable in decreasing concern about milk supply.

Jordanian women reported that the community and health care workers encouraged breastfeeding, but improvement in rights and education among Jordanian women, where only 5% are illiterate, have probably had an effect on feeling shy about breastfeeding in public places. This is different from the past in Jordan, where it was common to see mothers breastfeed in public places. Nowadays seeing this is considered unusual. We speculate that advertising infant formula may have contributed to the decrease in breastfeeding in public places.

A limitation of our study was its cross sectional design. For inclusion in this study, limiting the child's age to a maximum of 3 years would have diminished the risk of recall bias. Further cohort studies are needed to explore the effect of socioeconomic development on children health and nutrition.

This study showed that a high proportion of Jordanian women did breastfeed for more than one year. However, working women and those who deliver by caesarean section were less likely to breastfeed. It is speculated that having Baby Friendly hospitals and work places would probably be steps in the right direction.