Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Female Nurses on Complementary Feeding in a Tertiary level Hospital of Bangladesh

Authors

  • Maliha Alam Simi Registrar, Department of Paediatrics, Dhaka Medical College Hospital, Bangladesh
  • Md Abid Hossain Mollah Professor and Head, Dept. of Paediatrics, BIRDEM BIRDEM General Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh
  • Md Ekhlasur Rahman Principal & Professor, Dept. of Paediatrics Anwer Khan Modern Medical College, Dhaka-1205, Bangladesh

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3329/jbcps.v40i2.58688

Keywords:

Complementary feeding (CF), Infant and young child feeding (IYCF), Under 2 children

Abstract

Introduction: Inadequate knowledge on nutritious foods and feeding practices are determinant of malnutrition rather than lack of food. Health professionals particularly nurses pass long contact time with the mothers, so positive attitude among them can be used in motivating mothers for infant and young child feeding. There is little data available in this regard, therefore evaluation of nurses’ knowledge, attitude and practice on complementary feeding is very important. This study was conducted among the female nurses in a tertiary level hospital of Bangladesh to find out the knowledge, attitude and practice of complementary feeding to their own under-2 children. Methods: The descriptive study was carried out at Dhaka Medical College Hospital between September 2014 and August 2015. Total 95 nurses having children from 6 months up to 2 years of age were enrolled as sample.

Results: It showed that 63.1% of the nurses had good understanding on complementary feeding. But 46.3% of them did not know the duration correctly and 27.4% considered infant formula as the complementary food. Almost all had the positive attitude but 28.4% stated that distraction during feeding is needed. Among the respondents, 97% strongly agreed about the importance of complementary feeding but 67.4% of the nurses introduced complementary food before 6 months of age. Only 58.9% of them continued breast feeding up to 2 years.

Conclusion: The study reflects that although most of the nurses have adequate knowledge and positive attitude towards complementary feeding but deviation was noted in timely Introduction of complementary food and use of feeding bottle. This indicates clear disparity between knowledge and practice of the female nurses.

J Bangladesh Coll Phys Surg 2022; 40: 87-92

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.
Abstract
59
PDF
63

Downloads

Published

2022-04-10

How to Cite

Simi, M. A. ., Mollah, M. A. H. ., & Rahman, M. E. . (2022). Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Female Nurses on Complementary Feeding in a Tertiary level Hospital of Bangladesh. Journal of Bangladesh College of Physicians and Surgeons, 40(2), 87–92. https://doi.org/10.3329/jbcps.v40i2.58688

Issue

Vol. 40 No. 2 (2022)

Section

Original Articles

License

Submission of a manuscript for publication implies the transfer of the copyright from the author to the publisher upon acceptance. Accepted manuscripts become the permanent property of the Journal of Bangladesh College of Physicians and Surgeons and may not be reproduced by any means in whole or in part without the written consent of the publisher.

No part of the materials published in this journal may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the prior written permission of the publisher. Reprints of any article in the Journal will be available from the publisher.