OBJECTIVE: The aim of this cross-sectional study was to identify the @entity1 feeding practices and to evaluate the attitudes and beliefs of mothers on breast-feeding in @entity233 . METHODS: This study was established in 10 provinces of @entity233 between December 2000 and March 2001 and the study group was comprised of 1,767 @entity1 between the ages of 15-49 years (mean 27.6 +/- 6.4 years). Questionnaires were self-filled by mothers in the waiting rooms of the health centers. RESULTS: One hundred seventy-three @entity1 (9.9%) were illiterate, 829 (47.7%) had < or =5 years of schooling, and 83.4% were housewives. A significant number of @entity1 have traditional beliefs related to breast-feeding practices. According to 23.4% of the @entity1 at least 3 calls to prayer (average 12 hours) should be waited before the first breast-feeding postpartum and more than 30% of the mothers believe that colostrum should not be given to the newborn, some mothers breast milk could harm their babies, and an evil eye could harm their breast milk. The traditional belief status and educational status of the @entity1 differed significantly between provinces, lower educational status and higher rates of @entity1 with traditional beliefs were observed in less developed eastern provinces. Overall, 60.6% of the @entity1 were knowledgeable on breast-feeding practices, whereas only 13.5% were scored as good in attitudes. Among all @entity1 with breast-feed babies, 35.8% started supplementary feeding in the first 3 months of life. Mother's age, education, occupation and traditional beliefs did not have a significant effect on supplementation time. CONCLUSION: As a result, these findings suggest the importance of taking into account the customs, local beliefs and family influences in planning community health programs.

Traditional beliefs as forgotten influencing factors on breast-feeding performance in XXXX .

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['infant', 'women'] @entity233 :: ('9103', 'Species') :: ['Turkey']
@entity233 :: (9103,Species) :: ['Turkey']
