DETERMINANTS OF BREAST FEEDING PRACTICES AMONG NURSING MOTHERS ATTENDING THE CHILD WELFARE CLINICS OF NNAMDI AZIKIWE UNIVERSITY TEACHING HOSPITAL (NAUTH). ANAMBRA STATE, NIGERIA

DETERMINANTS OF BREAST FEEDING PRACTICES AMONG NURSING MOTHERS ATTENDING THE CHILD WELFARE CLINICS OF NNAMDI AZIKIWE UNIVERSITY TEACHING HOSPITAL (NAUTH). ANAMBRA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Despite documented evidence of the benefits of breastfeeding, the practice of optimal breastfeeding including exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life is still rare among nursing mothers. This study is aimed at describing the breastfeeding practices and their determinants among nursing mothers attending the child welfare clinics of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH), Anambra State, and the growth pattern of their infants aged 0-6 months.
The study was longitudinal. A total of 240 mother-neonate pairs were selected from the immunization registers using a systematic random sampling method. Of these mothers, 228 (95%) were completely followed up for six months. Data was collected using a semi-structured, interviewer-administered questionnaire, and analysed using SPSS version 11.0 and EPI Info version 3.2.2. This was complemented with four sessions of focus group discussions (FGDs), each involving 8-10 nursing mothers selected purposively. Data was analysed both thematically and by cut-and-paste method.
The findings showed that majority of the mothers 190 (83.3%) were aged between 20 and 34 years. About 152 (66.6%) had attended or completed secondary education and were mainly traders 86 (37.7%) and full time housewives 66 (29.0%). Most of them 208 (91.2%) had at least good knowledge of breastfeeding. Government health facilities served as their main source of breastfeeding education (80.5%), usually given during antenatal and postnatal visits (55.2% and 36.2%, respectively). Only 110 (48.2%) initiated breastfeeding immediately (<1hour) after
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delivery. Breastfeeding baby on-demand was popular than timed feeding (92.5% vs. 7.5%). About 188 (82.5%) of the mothers gave their babies colostrum milk, while 59 (25.9%) gave prelacteal feeds. Exclusive breastfeeding rate declined from 64.5% at birth to 37.3% at the age of six months. Maternal older age, multiparity, delivery at a government health facility, positive family attitude towards exclusive breastfeeding and government health facility as the main source of breastfeeding education were significantly associated with higher rates of exclusive breastfeeding (p<0.05). FGDs showed that mothers believed that adequate nutrition, physical, financial and emotional supports to them during pregnancy and lactation would increase exclusive breastfeeding practice.
In conclusion, it is evident that exclusive breastfeeding rate was low among the mothers; and the factors identified to influence its practice have important implications to breastfeeding intervention programmes. Therefore, activities to promote exclusive breastfeeding should be intensified and focused on the group of women or location in which poor breastfeeding practices exist; also, support to the mothers would be necessary.

Title Page———i

Certification——–ii

Dedication———iii

Acknowledgement——-iv

Abstract ———vi

Table of Content——–vii

 

Chapter One

1.0 Introduction ——-1

1.1 Statement of Problem——4

1.2 Purpose of the Study——5

1.3 Significance of Study——8

1.4 Limitation——–9

1.5 Scope of Study——-11

 

Chapter Two

2.0 Review of Related Literature —-12

2.6 Summary of Literature Review—- 19

 

Chapter Three

3.0 Research Methodology and Procedure—22

3.1 Population ——–22

3.2 Sample and Sampling Technique—-22

3.3 Validation of the Instrument —-23

3.4 Reliability of the Instrument —–23

3.5 Data Analysis——-23

 

Chapter Four

4.0 Presentation and Discussion of Result—24

4.1 Analysis and interpretaion of Data—25

4.2 Discussion of Results——38

 

Chapter Five

5.0. Summary, Conclusion, and Recommendation  –40

5.1 Summary——–40

5.2 Conclusion——–41

5.3 Recommendation——42

References ———45

Appendix 1——–47

Appendix ———50

DETERMINANTS OF BREAST FEEDING PRACTICES AMONG NURSING MOTHERS ATTENDING THE CHILD WELFARE CLINICS OF NNAMDI AZIKIWE UNIVERSITY TEACHING HOSPITAL (NAUTH). ANAMBRA STATE, NIGERIA

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