Knowledge and Attitude Level of Antenatal Mothers on Colostrum Feeding - An Community Based Exploratory Study

Background: Mothers during their postpartum period do not feed the newborns after child birth as soon as possible. They derelict colostrum feeding due to cultural beliefs and practices leading to lactation failure and immune deficits among newborn. Purpose: The main purpose of the current study was to evaluate the existing level of knowledge, attitude regarding colostrum feeding and to determine the co-relation between existing level of knowledge and attitude regarding colostrum feeding among third trimester antenatal mothers. Materials and methods: A descriptive correlative research design was adopted for the current study to find out the relationship between knowledge and attitude of third trimester antenatal mothers regarding colostrum feeding. The study was conducted in Maduramangalam Village after obtaining a formal permission from the village health officer. A total of 100 antenatal mothers were recruited as study participants through convenience sampling technique based on the inclusion criteria and a self- structured questionnaire was used to collect both the demographic data as well as for assessing the existing level of knowledge and attitude on colostrum feeding among third trimester antenatal mothers. Results: The study results concluded that, majority of our third trimester antenatal mothers who participated in the are moderately knowledgeable and has unfavorable attitude towards colostrum feeding. The mean score of knowledge on colostrum feeding was 6.05±1.76 and the mean score of attitude was 12.65±4.56 among third trimester antenatal mothers. The calculated Karl Pearson’s Correlation value of r = 0.635 identified a moderate positive correlation between knowledge and attitude which infers that, when knowledge on colostrum feeding among third trimester antenatal mothers increases then ultimately their attitude towards it also increases.