TITLE:
A Metanalysis of Trends in Knowledge and Practice of Breastfeeding in Egypt: A Case Study from the Eastern Mediterranean Region
AUTHORS:
Azza M. A. Abul-Fadl, Ayoub Al-Jawaldeh
KEYWORDS:
Exclusive Breastfeeding, Knowledge and Practice, Trends, Revised Ten Steps, Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative, Metanalysis, Mothers, Allowance
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Social Sciences,
Vol.10 No.10,
September
13,
2022
ABSTRACT: Introduction: Considerable global and country efforts have been made in the past three
decades to promote breastfeeding through extending exclusive breastfeeding
(EBF) to six months and revising the Ten steps of the Baby Friendly Hospitals
Initiative (BFHI). Aim: To assess impact of promotion efforts of the
World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF on the trends in knowledge and
practice of Egyptian mothers towards EBF and practices of BFHI. Methods: This is a metanalysis study of pooled data from
local research. A search for the current and past research focused on
EBF and BFHI practices was performed through
Egyptian University Libraries of Higher education, google and PubMed for using keywords of knowledge and practices
about early infant feeding practices over the past 15 years in Egypt. Raw data
were pooled for metanalysis. Twenty-four studies were identified: 12
studies from 2008 to 2018 and 12 studies from 2018
to 2022 which allowed for pooled data for 9685 mothers. Findings: Trends increased for knowledge and practice towards EBF, importance of
colostrum and hazards of supplementation but not for early initiation of
breastfeeding (EIBF) which decreased. Donated
supplies of milk formula to hospitals increased. Trend in practices for
offering supplements, and feeding bottles with breastfeeding decreased with increase
in EBF at birth but with increase in pacifier use. EIBF through skin-to-skin
(STS) remains abstinent. Illiteracy and incomplete education are still high
among housewives who do not get any sustenance from the government. Conclusions: Trends show support of the WHO recommendations of EBF for 6 months. EIBF
and STS remain a challenge. The rights of women in breastfeeding support and protection are far from
adequate to meet the rising trends in marketing of milk formula. Low
literacy, disempowerment and lack of support remain barriers to EBF and
continued breastfeeding for two years.