Factors influence on Primigravida’s knowledge regarding exclusive breastfeeding benefits in Maternity Teaching Hospital: Erbil city - Kurdistan region – Iraq

Background and objective: A wealth of evidence demonstrates that exclusive breastfeeding provides numerous short-and long-term benefits for both mother and child. This study aimed to find out the association between socio-demographic characteristics and to predict the associated factors which influence on the knowledge of primigravidas. Methods: A Hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted at Maternity Teaching Hospital in Erbil city, Iraq, during the period from March 23rd, to July 1st, 2015. A convenience sample of 180 primigravidas was included in the study. Data were collected by using a questionnaire. Chi-square test and linear regression were used to investigate the significance association and predict the factors associated with knowledge. Results: The study found that most of the primigravidas were between 17 and 23 years old, housewives, primary school graduates, and living in low socio-economic status. The statistically significant association existed between age, education, socio-economic status and occupation of respondents with their knowledge. Linear regression predicted that the age and occupation were two factors associated with primigravida’s knowledge. Conclusion: Primigravida pregnant in Erbil city demonstrated poor knowledge concerning breastfeeding benefits, the study found a significant association between some of the variables with primigravidas knowledge and age and occupation were two factors which influenced primigravidas knowledge.