EFFECT OF MATERNAL COUNSELLING ON THE INCIDENCE AND CONTINUATION OF BREAST FEEDING

Abstract

Breast feeding is an unequalled way of providing ideal food for the healthy growth and development of infants , and has a unique biological and emotional influence on the health of both mother and infant . The anti - infective properities of breast milk helps to protect infants against disease , especially when the infant is exclusively breast fed for the first 4 -6 mo­ nths of life . The koran provides clear rules governing breast feeding and the adoption of a wet nurse if for unavoidable reasons , the mother is unable to continue breastfeeding . The aim of this study was to assess the effect of maternal counsell- -•- ing on the incidence and continuation of breast feeding . This study was carried out on two groups of mothers , each group consisted of 50 primigravidas , attending the ante-natal department of obstetric and MCH Centers of Benha University Hospital . The first group was considered as study group , while the second was the control group. An initial pilot study was carried out on ten mothers and 11 not in­ cluded in the research sample II to assess mother's knowledge about breast feeding , and the revised form of this questionnaire was used twice , once as a pre -counselling during the ante-natal period and the another time as a post - counselling ( I week - 4 weeks - 8 weeks ) post-partm . This was filled by the researcher . The data were collected over a period of six mo­nths , which started in first April 1998 and ended by 30 Septemper 1998 . A follow up was done for two months post - partum .