Mothers’ Knowledge and Attitudes towards Managing Breastfeeding Problems in a Tertiary Hospital

Breastfeeding problems are among the most significant barriers to sustaining exclusive breastfeeding. Many postpartum mothers report difficulties in managing breastfeeding challenges due to inexperience, lack of education, or inadequate support. Therefore, addressing breastfeeding-related problems is critical to improving breastfeeding success. This study aimed to assess the level of knowledge and attitudes toward managing breastfeeding problems among postnatal mothers. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 258 postnatal mothers using purposive sampling at Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz between May and June 2024. Data were collected using the Knowledge of Breastfeeding Problems Questionnaire (K-BFQ) and an open-ended question to assess attitudes toward managing breastfeeding problems. Among the 258 respondents, 82.6% had received breastfeeding education, while 17.4% had not. Despite the high rate of education exposure, only 51.2% demonstrated an adequate level of knowledge. In contrast, 96.9% expressed a positive attitude, indicating a willingness to continue breastfeeding even when facing challenges. While this positive attitude is encouraging, it must be supported by sufficient knowledge to ensure mothers can manage breastfeeding effectively and comfortably. These findings highlight the need to strengthen antenatal education, particularly on managing breastfeeding difficulties. Integrating targeted content into antenatal classes may help to improve maternal confidence, knowledge and overall breastfeeding outcomes.