Maternal knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding breastfeeding: A cross-sectional study

ABSTRACT Background: Breastfeeding is essential for infant growth and maternal-child health; however, breastfeeding rates in Benghazi, Libya, remain below global recommendations. Only 25.3% of mothers exclusively breastfeed for 6 months. Assessing maternal knowledge, attitudes, and practices is necessary to identify barriers to exclusive breastfeeding and inform effective interventions that improve outcomes. This study aimed to evaluate the breastfeeding knowledge and attitude among mothers in Benghazi, Libya. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Benghazi, Libya, using convenience sampling between January and July 2025. Mothers attending Benghazi Children’s Hospital were interviewed by students. Data collected included demographic, obstetric, postpartum, and breastfeeding knowledge variables, alongside attitudes assessed using the Arabic version of the Iowa Infant Feeding Attitude Scale (IIFAS-A). Statistical analyses were done using SPSS version 24, including Chi-square, analysis of variance, and independent t-tests, with significance set at 0.05. Results: The study included 288 mothers. The mean knowledge score was 13.91 ± 2.02 (possible range: 0–17). Most participants recognized that breastfeeding protects mothers and infants from disease and strengthens bonding; they were also aware of World Health Organization recommendations for exclusive breastfeeding during the first 6 months. The mean IIFAS score was 59.9, reflecting neutral attitudes. Overall, 46.9% had neutral attitudes, 41.0% were positive toward breastfeeding, and 12.2% favored formula feeding. Conclusion: In conclusion, mothers in Benghazi demonstrated high breastfeeding knowledge but predominantly neutral attitudes. These findings suggest that knowledge alone may not translate into optimal feeding practices. Efforts to increase exclusive breastfeeding should target maternal attitudes, social support, workplace policies, and community awareness initiatives.