Breastfeeding Knowledge, Perceived Stress, and Barriers among Breastfeeding Mothers: A Cross-Sectional Study

Exclusive breastfeeding rates among children from birth to five months are declining in Jordan. Little is known about the challenges Jordanian mothers face in implementing breastfeeding. This study examines mothers' breastfeeding knowledge, perceived barriers, and stress levels, and analyzes their relationships with one another and with demographic factors.

A cross-sectional, descriptive correlational study utilizing an online survey was conducted to gather data from mothers attending a healthcare center in Jordan. The Arabic Breastfeeding Knowledge Questionnaire, the Breastfeeding Perceived Barriers scale, and Cohen's Perceived Stress Scale were used to collect data. Pearson r, independent t-test, and one-way ANOVA were used for analysis.

Three hundred and fifty mothers (mean age 29.8±5.8 years) participated in the study. The mean score of BFK-A was 11.1±2.5 out of 16. Almost half of the mothers (n=185) reported poor to fair knowledge. The mean score on the BFPB scale was 57.3±10.1 out of 110, and 42.6% (n=149) of mothers scored above the mean. The mean score of PSS-10 was 19.9±2.8 out of 40, with 97.7% of mothers (n=342) reporting moderate levels of perceived stress. Perceived stress did not correlate with breastfeeding knowledge nor with barriers.

The findings revealed significant knowledge gaps and a positive association between level of education and breastfeeding knowledge. Breastfeeding barriers concerned with body image, self-efficacy, and inadequate professional support were prominent.

Community and healthcare-based counseling programs are needed to enhance knowledge, address barriers, and reduce stress among breastfeeding mothers.