Background: Breastfeeding and weaning difficulties result in an early termination of breastfeeding and early weaning before the recommended period. Aim of study: assess maternal difficulties and care during breast feeding and weaning process for their infants. Design: Descriptive study design was utilized to carryout the study. Setting: This study was conducted at Outpatient pediatric clinics at Benha University and Benha Teaching Hospital. Sampling: Non probability purposive sample of 150 mothers. Tools of data collection: Two tools were used: Tool (I): A structured interviewing questionnaire sheet containing three parts and tool (II): Breastfeeding experience scale. Results: Less than three-quarters of the studied mothers had unsatisfactory total level of knowledge about breastfeeding and weaning difficulties, most of the studied mothers had unsatisfactory level of knowledge about care of breastfeeding and weaning difficulties, nearly two thirds of studied mothers had total average presence and severity of breastfeeding difficulties. Conclusion: The most common maternal breastfeeding difficulties were sore or cracked nipples, breast engorgement, flat or inverted nipples, mastitis, blockage of lactic ducts, difficulty in combining work and breastfeeding. While the most common weaning difficulties were food refusal, frequent vomiting, severe diarrhea, food allergy and anemia. Recommendation: Early detection of breastfeeding and weaning difficulties related to the mothers and their infants and provide care accordingly. |
