Assessment of mothers’ knowledge and practice regarding exclusive breastfeeding. Sara Galal Mohammed 1* , Wafaa El-Sayed Ouda 2 , Safaa Salah Ismail 1 1 Department of Pediatric Nursing, Helwan University, Cairo, Egypt 2 Department of Pediatric Nursing, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt Abstract Background: Exclusive breastfeeding is the gold standard in infant nutrition. Exclusive breastfeeding has been recognized as an important public health tool for the primary prevention of child morbidity and mortality. The Study Aimed to: Assess the studied mothers’ knowledge and practice regarding exclusive breastfeeding. Design: A descriptive research design was utilized. Setting: This study was conducted at selected maternal and child health centers in Hadayek Helwan and El Sait Khadra in Helwan district. Sample: A purposive sample of 60 mothers and their accompanying infants were attending the previously mentioned settings for BCG immunization during the first week of life and were satisfying the inclusive criteria. Tools: The first toolwas a structured interviewing questionnaire sheet to assess the mothers’ knowledge about exclusive breastfeeding; the second tool was breastfeeding checklist to assess the reported mothers’ practice regarding exclusive breast-feeding. Results: The study findings revealed that nearly two thirds of the studied mothers had unsatisfactory knowledge regarding exclusive breast-feeding and more than three quarters of the studied mothers were incompetent regarding exclusive breast-feeding. Conclusion: The present study concluded that, nearly two thirds of the studied mothers had unsatisfactory knowledge regarding exclusive breast-feeding, more than three quarters of the studied mothers were incompetent regarding exclusive breast-feeding and there was statistically significant difference between total mothers’ knowledge and reported practice regarding exclusive breast-feeding. Recommendations: Periodical health education and awareness programs about the importance of exclusive breast-feeding should be directed for young and primipara mothers. Keywords: Breast-feeding, Exclusive, Knowledge, Mothers, Nursing, Practice. Accepted on August 12, 2021 Introduction Breast-feeding is a natural process of infants’ feeding involving two main methods: exclusive and non-exclusive breast-feeding. Nevertheless, EBF is the absolute and suitable scheme with finest domino effect [1]. Breast milk is a natural food that serves as a complete source of infants’ nutrition for the first six months of life. Breast milk contains all the necessary nutrients provided in a bio-available and easily digestible form, protecting both mothers and infants against illness and diseases with immunological properties. The WHO and UNICEF recommended that, all mothers should breastfeed their infants exclusively for the first six months of life. It is also recommended that breast-feeding should begin within one hour after birth [2]. Early initiation of breast-feeding should be promoted and pre- lacteal feeds discouraged. Because of its high levels of vitamin A, antibodies, and other protective factors, colostrum is considered as the infant’s first immunization. Breast milk contains essential fatty acids needed for the infants growing brain, eye, blood vessels, and these are not available in other milks. EBF is the reference or normative model against which all alternative feeding methods should be measured, regarding growth, health, development, and all other short- and long-term outcomes [3]. The EBF has been defined as the situation where the infant has received only breast milk from the mother or a wet nurse, or expressed breast milk, and no other liquids, or solids, except drops or syrups containing vitamins, minerals supplements, or medicines, for the first six months. In order to achieve the Millennium Development Goal (MDGs) of reduction of infant mortality, EBF has been identified as one of the major intervention approaches, both globally and nationally [4]. The most important breast-feeding practice includes initiation of breast-feeding within one hour of birth, frequent, and on- Curr Pediatr Res 2021; 25 (7): 711-724 ISSN 0971-9032 www.currentpediatrics.com Curr Pediatr Res 2021 Volume 25 Issue 7 711