This study provides insights into the prevalence and factors influencing breastfeeding practices among Saudi mothers. Breastfeeding prevalence was high, with 86.6% of mothers reporting breastfeeding their youngest child. This finding aligns with global breastfeeding promotion efforts. However, only 46.0% of mothers initiated breastfeeding within the first hour. Factors such as age, education level, and employment status showed no statistically significant associations with initiation, but notable trends emerged. Older mothers, those with higher parity, and mothers with lower levels of education demonstrated higher rates of early initiation, suggesting cultural and generational influences. Working mothers faced challenges with the continuation of breastfeeding due to the lack of designated breastfeeding time at work.
Of the participants surveyed, 37% did not allocate time for breastfeeding at work, highlighting the need to raise awareness of breastfeeding rights in the workplace. Workplace support and educational campaigns are recommended to promote the continuation of timely breastfeeding among working mothers. The challenges faced by working Saudi mothers in continuing breastfeeding align with global findings, emphasizing the need for workplace support and policy improvement, including the provision of paid maternal leave and access to breastfeeding rooms. Some workplaces in Saudi Arabia have introduced a “breastfeeding hour” and breastfeeding rooms to support breastfeeding mothers.
Esmaeili et al. [7] found that maternal BMI impacts the birth weight of a newborn, which affects breastfeeding capacity. As suggested by Salehian and Karimi [23], accommodative practices like breastfeeding counseling and education are essential for enhancing exclusive breastfeeding practices among women, especially in low-income settings. Additionally, postpartum mental health issues such as depression should be addressed as they erode breastfeeding mothers’ self-efficacy [24]. T Socioeconomic factors, including whether a pregnancy is desired or unwanted, also impact breastfeeding, warranting targeted interventions [8, 25].
Cesarean section and lack of breast milk supply were the leading factors in delaying the initiation of breastfeeding, highlighting gaps in education and support. Better education and support through breastfeeding clinics in primary healthcare could correct misconceptions and enhance confidence in the practice of exclusive breastfeeding and it’s continuity. These findings align with studies in Saudi Arabia and other regions. Studies in Saudi Arabia [2, 3, 26] show a decline in the duration of breastfeeding, especially among young urban mothers, highlighting the need for interventions. Research in other Eastern Mediterranean countries [27, 28] has shown that various factors including maternal education, cultural beliefs, and workplace support are critical to breastfeeding practices [26, 29, 30]. For example, Al-Jawaldeh noted that the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative plays a key role in promoting breastfeeding, but implementation varies by region [26]. Strengthening and adapting these activities to fit different cultural and socioeconomic contexts can significantly influence a mother’s decision to initiate and sustain breastfeeding [31, 32].
This study emphasizes the need for further research on breastfeeding practices among Saudi mothers to identify critical influencing factors. Further studies should explore societal beliefs and social norms [30, 32], as well as examine workplace policies to develop targeted interventions. Analyzing past breastfeeding records can provide valuable insights into trends, outcomes, and areas needing improvement [13]. Moreover, qualitative research could provide a more detailed understanding of mothers’ experiences with breastfeeding initiation and continuation [19, 22].
Given these results, several public health interventions could be implemented to stimulate breastfeeding among mothers in Saudi Arabia. Expanding prenatal and postnatal care services to include breastfeeding education and support can increase the mothers’ awareness and confidence in breastfeeding [19, 22]. Mobile or online nursing stations in primary healthcare clinics and workplaces could support mothers who limit breastfeeding, particularly due to workplace culture [33]. Importantly, government authorities should introduce supportive work policies, such as paid maternity leave and designated breastfeeding spaces, to help working mothers breastfeed more easily. Healthcare providers, policymakers, and communities must collaborate to create a supportive environment that encourages and protects breastfeeding practices [28, 29, 32].
Socioeconomic status is a confounding variable that impacts the initiation of early breastfeeding as it determines the ability of an individual to access healthcare, education, and other support services. For instance, women with high socioeconomic status can afford lactation consultants and benefit from breastfeeding-friendly environments, increasing the likelihood of early initiation and continuing to breastfeed for longer periods. Conversely, women with a lower socioeconomic status may experience poor prenatal care and education, slowing down or hindering breastfeeding onset.
This study has several limitations. The cross-sectional design limits the ability to infer causality from the associations observed, and recall bias affects reliability. Additionally, the study was conducted in one city, which limits generalizability. The high proportion of breastfeeding among mothers could be biased due to the use of convenience sampling. Some data on socioeconomic status were also missing, as they were not answered by the participants; this limits insights into the impact of socioeconomic factors on breastfeeding and weakens conclusions about other factors like maternal age or delivery complications.
link
More Stories
Exclusive breastfeeding determinants among healthcare professionals in Northern Ghanaian hospitals: a cross-sectional study | Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition
Enugu urges pregnant, nursing mothers to access modern health facilities, shun quacks
Poor access to breastfeeding counseling services and associated factors among lactating mothers who had optimal antenatal care follow-up in Sub-saharan Africa: a multilevel analysis of the recent Demographic and Health Survey | BMC Health Services Research