Breastfeeding Awareness and Practice among

Background: Breastfeeding, recognized by healthcare professionals as the optimal feeding method for infants, plays a crucial role in promoting overall health. It provides essential nutrients, strengthens the mother-child bond, and supports healthy growth and development. Despite its known significance, breastfeeding practices remain inconsistent. Objective: The goal is to evaluate what mothers know, how they feel and what they do when it comes to breastfeeding. Methods: This retrospective observational study was conducted in Ahmedabad over six months, surveying 312 mothers using a awareness, and Practice questionnaire. Results: The findings revealed that while most mothers recognized the benefits of breastfeeding and understood the importance of starting early, their awareness about introducing complementary foods and continuing breastfeeding until the child turns two was relatively limited. Awareness of exclusive breastfeeding remained low. Regarding attitudes, some mothers had positive perceptions, but a significant portion believed breastfeeding should stop during diarrhea episodes. In terms of practices, many mothers breastfed at regular intervals, used kangaroo mother care, and provided breast milk as the first nutrient. Conclusion: Despite adequate awareness and positive attitudes, breastfeeding practices remain suboptimal. Educational campaigns should focus on promoting optimal breastfeeding behaviors. Strengthening healthcare counseling and tailored educational programs can help bridge the knowledge gap. Socioeconomic factors, particularly income and education, play a crucial role in child health. Policymakers should prioritize exclusive breastfeeding, provide support for mothers, and create enabling environments for better breastfeeding practices.