Knowledge, attitudes, and practices of weaning among Iraqi mothers of children under two years old

Weaning is a critical process that introduces solid foods alongside breastfeeding and plays an important role in a child’s nutrition, immunity, and growth. Despite global recommendations, cultural traditions and misconceptions often influence maternal feeding practices. This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of Iraqi mothers regarding weaning among children under two years of age. A cross-sectional study was conducted over six months among 300 mothers attending primary health care centers in the Al-Hashimiyah district, Babil Governorate, Iraq, over six months in 2024. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire based on the standard knowledge, attitudes, and practices model and analyzed using SPSS version 25. Maternal knowledge about weaning was relatively high (mean = 7.45 ± 1.30). However, attitude (0.87 ± 1.04) and practice (2.95 ± 0.97) scores were lower. More than half of the mothers (54.67%) introduced complementary foods before four months of age. The most common initial weaning foods were rice water (54.67%) and sweetened water (19.67%). Family members and friends were the primary sources of information (65%). Higher knowledge and practice scores were significantly associated with maternal education, employment, and better economic status (p < 0.001). A gap exists between maternal knowledge and actual weaning practices. Cultural traditions and limited access to reliable information may contribute to this discrepancy. Strengthening maternal education and community-based interventions may improve appropriate weaning practices.