Optimizing nourishment: nutritional knowledge, practices, and cultural beliefs among postpartum lactating mothers in Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study

Background: Adequate maternal nutrition in the postpartum period is crucial for maternal recovery, optimal breast milk composition, and healthy infant development. Nutritional knowledge and culturally influenced dietary practices play a key role in shaping mothers' dietary behaviors. This study aimed to assess nutritional knowledge, practices, and cultural food beliefs among postpartum lactating mothers in Saudi Arabia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 442 postpartum mothers within 6 months after delivery, recruited using a two-stage cluster random sampling technique from maternal and child health centers in Bisha and Ha'il cities. A standardized interviewer-administered questionnaire encompassing sociodemographic traits, nutritional knowledge, dietary habits, and culturally influenced eating habits was used to gather data. To find determinants of adequate dietary practices and strong nutritional awareness, binary logistic regression analysis was used. Results: Overall, 54.8% of mothers were classified as having good nutritional practices, and 50.9% were classified as having good nutritional knowledge. Good nutritional knowledge was significantly associated with older maternal age, higher educational attainment, and employment status. Good nutritional practices were significantly associated with employment, better income status, and planned pregnancy. Regarding cultural beliefs, 65.8% of mothers consumed culturally prepared traditional foods, 63.6% avoided certain foods based on cultural beliefs, and 69.2% participated in celebratory food practices following childbirth. Herbal tea, puerperium nuts, and Moghate were the most commonly consumed traditional foods. Conclusion: Although more than half of postpartum mothers reported good dietary practices, only half demonstrated adequate nutritional knowledge. To improve maternal and infant nutritional outcomes in Saudi Arabia, culturally sensitive, evidence-based nutritional education programs must be integrated into prenatal and postnatal healthcare services.