Assessment of Mothers’ Knowledge and Attitudes Toward Weaning at Maternity and Raparin Teaching Hospitals: A Cross-Sectional Study in Erbil, 2024–2025.

Background and Aim: In Erbil, Iraq, weaning practices play a critical role in early childhood nutrition and maternal decision-making. This study aimed to assess the levels of knowledge and attitudes regarding weaning among mothers attending Maternity Teaching Hospital and Raparin Teaching Hospital. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at Maternity Teaching Hospital and Raparin Teaching Hospital from September 15 to November 5, 2024, using purposive sampling. The questionnaire consisted of three sections: the first included demographic data, while the second and third were self-structured tools developed to assess mothers’ knowledge and attitudes toward weaning. Chi-square tests, Pearson correlation, and ordinal regression were used to examine associations between the main variables and potential confounding factors. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 27 Results: A total of 235 mothers participated in the study. The findings showed that most mothers demonstrated fair levels of both knowledge and attitude toward weaning, with mean scores of 33.99 ± 2.89 and 30.48 ± 3.76, respectively. There was a significant positive correlation between knowledge and attitude (r = 0.31, p < .001), indicating that greater knowledge was associated with a more favorable attitude. Ordinal regression analysis identified the number of children as a significant predictor of both knowledge and attitude levels, while other socio-demographic variables showed no significant associations. Conclusions: The study concluded that mothers in Erbil generally have fair knowledge and attitudes toward weaning. Policymakers and healthcare providers are recommended to implement targeted educational programs to enhance maternal awareness and promote positive weaning practices.