Breastfeeding Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice among Female Health Workers in 80 Health Facilities in Nangarhar Province in 2025

Abstract

The study was a cross-sectional study aimed at measuring the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of 263 female healthcare workers in Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan. Findings revealed that the general knowledge (84.7%) and positive attitudes were satisfactory. There was, however, a large gap (in terms of knowledge-to-practice), especially in on-demand feeding (61.6%). The structural barriers were the main ones: 32.7 percent said they were too busy, and 22.1 percent said there were no appropriate facilities available at work. Health workers are good to know, but systemic workplace constraints limit their practice. The interventions needed to fill this gap should include addressing environmental obstacles through compulsory lactation rooms and supportive workplace policies, empowering healthcare workers to serve as effective breastfeeding role models.