Exploring mothers’ knowledge and practices for expressed breast milk in Jazan, Saudi Arabia

Background: Breastfeeding is vital for newborns, providing optimal nutrition and lowering illness risk. The World Health Organization advises exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) for the first 6 months, followed by complementary feeding until at least 2 years of age. For mothers unable to breastfeed directly, expressing breast milk is a standard alternative. The effectiveness of expressed milk depends on maternal knowledge about its expression, storage, and feeding practices. Aims: The study evaluated the knowledge and practices regarding breast milk expression among mothers in Jazan region. Settings and Design: This cross-sectional study involves 320 mothers living in Jazan region in Saudi Arabia. Subjects and Methods: Data were collected through a pretested electronic questionnaire assessing knowledge and practices of expressed breast milk (EBM). Statistical Analysis: The data were analyzed using IBM SPSS version 29.0. Results: Most participants were over 33 years old ( n = 223, 69.1%) and lived in urban areas ( n = 168, 52.5%). A notable 60.9% ( n = 195) had university or postgraduate degrees, and 45.9% ( n = 147) were employed. While 63.7% ( n = 204) reported breastfeeding, only 22.2% ( n = 71) practiced EBF for 6 months. In addition, 49.1% ( n = 157) had good knowledge about EBM. A significant link was found between knowledge and the mother’s age ( P = 0.017), residence ( P = 0.019), and education ( P = 0.048), with older mothers and housewives showing poorer knowledge. Conclusion: The study showed that only half of the mothers understood breast milk expression. Key barriers included lack of knowledge, insufficient milk supply, and pain. Significant associations were found related to the mothers’ age, residence, education, and occupation, emphasizing the need for targeted educational programs.