The Perceptions of Pregnant Mothers on Exclusive Breastfeeding: Motivation to Perform Early Breastfeeding Initiation (EBI) at Hayati Clinic Medan

Abstract

Introduction: Pregnancy is a natural and physiological process that brings happiness to mothers with the arrival of their newborn. When a baby is born, it is placed on its mother's chest, where it will have physical contact with its mother and instinctively search for its mother's nipple to breastfeed. This is where the process of early breastfeeding initiation (EBI) occurs. Breast milk is a natural food for babies, and the World Health Organization recommends exclusive breastfeeding for six months. Despite a 49% decrease in under-five mortality rates worldwide, child mortality remains a significant issue, with almost half of all child deaths occurring in the last two decades. The aim of this study is to determine the relationship between pregnant women's attitudes towards exclusive breastfeeding and their motivation to perform EBI. Methods: This study used a cross-sectional analytical survey design, with data collected through questionnaires distributed to 44 pregnant mothers at Hayati Clinic. The sampling technique used was saturation sampling, and the data were analyzed using chi-square statistical tests with α 0.05. Results: Based on the research results, the relationship between pregnant mothers' perceptions of exclusive breastfeeding and their motivation to perform EBI was significant, with p (0.000) < α (0.05), indicating that mothers with less favorable perceptions were less motivated to perform EBI. Conclusion: From the study's findings, it is recommended that pregnant mothers increase their knowledge and seek more information about exclusive breastfeeding and motivation to achieve successful early breastfeeding initiation (EBI).