INTERNATIONAL BLACK SEA COASTLINE COUNTRIES SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH CONFERENCE DIFFERENCES IN THE KNOWLEDGE OF PREGNANT WOMEN ABOUT EXCLUSIVE BREASTFEEDING

Exclusive breastfeeding is defined by (WHO), namely breastfeeding infants with
only breast milk for the first six months of a baby's life. According to Basic Health
Research (Riskesdas) data, the rate of Early Breastfeeding Initiation (IMD) in
Indonesia increased by 58.2% in 2018 from 35.2% in 2013. Despite the increase, the
figure is still far from the target of 80%, where IMD has a very decisive role in the
success of the breastfeeding process. According to Assriyah (2020), several factors
can influence mothers in exclusive breastfeeding, one of which is knowledge.
The purpose of the study was to determine the difference in knowledge of pregnant
women before and after being given health education about exclusive breastfeeding
at the health development clinic in Simalungun District.
The research method used is quasi-experimental. The research design is pre and posttest design. The population in this study was pregnant women with normal
pregnancies, and the sample in this study was 20 pregnant women at the Health of
Development Clinic, Simalungun District. The results showed that almost all the 19
respondents (95%) were reproductive aged (20-35 years). Before being given health
education show that the median value of knowledge was 70 (40-80) and after being
given health education median value of knowledge was 80 (60-93.33).
There is a difference in maternal knowledge about exclusive breastfeeding before
and after being given health at the Health Development Clinic in Simalungun
Regency with a median value (p < 0.001). Health education can give to increase the
mother's knowledge.