Non-Professional Sources of Breastfeeding Advice Received During Antenatal Period by Primiparous Mothers Admitted to the Teaching Hospital, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka

Introduction: Inadequate information before childbirth can result in improper breastfeeding practices. While professional guidance is essential, family and friends also play a significant role in providing breastfeeding support to mothers. However, there is a notable knowledge gap regarding non-professional sources of breastfeeding information available to first-time mothers in Sri Lanka. This study aimed to identify non-healthcare professional sources of breastfeeding advice, such as family and friends with prior breastfeeding experience, accessed by primiparous mothers during pregnancy.
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted using a self-administered, pre-tested questionnaire distributed among 262 primipara mothers. Data were gathered regarding impact of the family/ friends on providing information regarding breastfeeding. The sociodemographic characteristics were examined using frequency distributions, with summary statistics and bar graphs employed for visual representation. The Chi-square test was used to compare independent and dependent variables.
Results: Primiparous mothers received information from both professional (95%) and non-professional sources (89.2%). The primary non-professional source was their own mother (75%), followed by contributions from mother-in-law, sisters, friends, and colleagues. The topics discussed included breastfeeding techniques, common problems and remedies, assessing breastfeeding adequacy, and the use of formula milk. Additionally, the internet was the most widely used non-human source of information, with 66.9% of mothers accessing it for breastfeeding-related guidance.
Conclusion: The present study concludes that a significant proportion of pregnant mothers receive information on breastfeeding initiation, techniques, and managing problems from close family members and friends. However, since the study did not assess the quality and accuracy of the information provided, further qualitative research or studies with a broader scope are recommended to evaluate these aspects.