Knowledge and Attitude Regarding Human Milk Banking among Antenatal Mothers Attending Antenatal Clinic.

Abstract

Background Breast milk is the ideal food that has essential nutrients for the normal growth and development of infants. It contains antibodies that help to protect against many common childhood illnesses. For infants who cannot receive breast milk from their own mothers, due to maternal illness, death, medication, disability, insufficient milk production, allergies, or prematurity, donated breastmilk can become the ideal option. Objective To assess the knowledge and attitude regarding human milk banking among antenatal mothers. Method A cross-sectional analytical research was conducted among 422 antenatal mothers attending the antenatal outpatient department of Bharatpur hospital from date 04 November to 04 December 2022. Systematic random sampling was used to select the study unit. A semi-structured interview schedule was adopted to collect the data. Collected data were analyzed by using Descriptive statistics as well as inferential statistics. Result Out of 422 mothers, the majority 58.8 % had poor knowledge and 55.9% had a negative attitude toward human milk banking. There was a significant association between poor knowledge and negative attitude with some socio-demographic variables such as age (AOR=2.16; 95%CI= 1.372-3.401; p=0.001), history of adverse pregnancy outcome (AOR =6.202 95% CI=1.786-21.54;p=0.004), occupation (AOR= 1.906; 95% CI = 1.246-2.915; p=0.003). Conclusion It is concluded that the majority of the respondents had poor knowledge and a negative attitude regarding human milk banking.Knowledge and awareness of human milk banking, play a major role to remove misperceptions about human milk donation and banking. Therefore, proper dissemination of information about human milk bank services, is necessary.