Özet:

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine breastfeeding statues and practices of mothers to improve breast milk production and affecting factors. MATERIALS and METHODS: Sample of this descriptive study included 216 mothers in Kütahya , having 0-6 month(s) old infants and breastfed at least for a while. Data were collected via a questionnaire prepared by researchers including 51 questions about mothers' socio-demographic characteristics, obstetric history, nursing situations and traditional practices used to improve breast milk/breastfeeding between 07.01.2008-072.20.2008 by the face-to-face interviews at their homes. Descriptive statistics, chi-square, Fisher exact chi-square and ANOVA were used for data analysis. RESULTS: The age of mothers were in mean 26.85±4.87, 53.2% were completed primary school, 89.4% were housewife and 45.8% had low income. 65.0% of mothers exclusively breastfed their babies for the first six months. 72.7% of mothers thought there milk were enough and 77.8% were not informed about breastfeeding issues. While 19.9% of mothers did nothing to increase their breast milk supply, over 80% of mothers tried to increase their breast milk production while they perceived their milk as inadequate. For this reason they used modern (9.2%), traditional (47.9%) or both modern and traditional practices (42.7%). A great part emphasized nutritional applications. They believed mostly that water (62.0%), milk (24.1%), sweets (20.8%), fig (18.1%), onion (17.6%), fruits-fruit juices (16.2%), fennel tea (14.8%) and wegetables (13.9%) increased their breast milk supply. Milk-enhancing practices of mothers were affected by mothers' perceptions of milk-(in)sufficiency, age, working statue, incomes, numbers of living children, pre-planned times for exclusively breastfeeding, infants' age and information given about breastfeeding issues (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that mothers use various methods to enhance their breast milk supply some of them may harm both mothers self and their infants, they mostly practice traditional methods and need education about modern practices.

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