Survey on knowledge, attitude, belief and practice of exclusive breastfeeding among mothers of infants aged below 6 months in Shanghai

Objective To investigate the knowledge, attitude, belief and practice (KABP) of exclusive breastfeeding among mothers with infants less than 6 months of age in Shanghai City.Methods A total of 5 672 mothers of infants aged below 6 months throughout Shanghai were recruited to take the questionnaire investigations, excluding artificial-feeding ones.Results The exclusive breastfeeding rate in mothers with infants less than 6 months of age was 51.34%. There were significant differences in the concerns of "food of normal babies aged below 6 months" (χ²=10.02, P=0.002) and "knowledge towards formula" (χ²=21.30, P<0.001), the confidence in exclusive breastfeeding(χ²=544.57, P<0.001), the breastfeeding pattern (χ²=164.97, P<0.001) and the method of maintaining lactation(χ²=479.33, P<0.001). 56.11% of the mothers were willing to receive support on breastfeeding through breast feeding clinics.Conclusions The feeding concern, attitude and practice in the exclusive breastfeeding group is more positively. To improve the rate of exclusive breastfeeding, professional and effective health education is needed.