KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICE OF EXCLUSIVE BREAST FEEDING AMONG NURSING MOTHERS IN ABA SOUTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF ABIA STATE

 ABSTRACT

This project examined Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of exclusive breastfeeding among nursing mothers In Aba South Local Government Area of Abia State. A sample size of 348 was calculated. The technique for analyzing the data collected for this research was descriptive statistics using frequency and percentage. The result of the analysis showed that less than half (38.2%) of the respondents were between the age of 32-40 years. Over half (61.8%) had up to tertiary education. The study showed good nutrition knowledge scores with the cumulative percentage of (71.2%) and 28.8% low nutrition knowledge. The result showed that 63.2% of the respondent initiated breastfeeding between 1-24 hours after delivery. Over half (64.4%) of the respondents knew about EBF through Ante-natal clinics/hospital. Few (34.5%) of the respondents were of the opinion that the benefits of exclusive breastfeeding for babies is that he/she grows healthily. Over half (60.1%) of the respondents said that the nursing mothers do not need to empty one breast before giving the other. this work therefore concludes that Exclusive breast feeding (EBF) has important protective effects on the survival of infants, but mother do not practice EBF due to inadequate time to breastfeed baby because of work load.  This study recommends increased awareness on the use of water in a jar to store extracted breast milk for a longer time if there is no electricity supply as a coping strategy when mothers are not available to breast feed babies.

TABLE OF CONTENT

Tile Page                                                                                                                     i

Certification                                                                                                                ii

Dedication                                                                                                                   iii

Acknowledgement                                                                                                      iv

Table of content                                                                                                          v

Lists of tables                                                                                                              vi

Abstract                                                                                                                       vii

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the Study                                                                                                                                                  1

1.2 Statement of the Problem                                                                                                                                                 2

1.3 Objective of the Study                                                                                                                                                      5

1.4 Significance of the Study                                                                                                                                                 4

CHAPTER TWO

LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 Breasting Feeding                                                                                                                                                             7

2.2   Nutritional Qualities of Human Milk                                                                                                                             8

2.3.1 Colostrum                                                                                                                                                                      9

2.3.2 Carbohydrate                                                                                                                                                                 9

2.3.3 Protein                                                                                                                                                                            10

2.3.4  Fat                                                                                                                                                                                 10

2.3.5 Water                                                                                                                                                                             11

2.3.6 Immunoglobulin’s                                                                                                                                                         11

2.3.7 Vitamins and Minerals                                                                                                                                                  11

2.4 Benefits of Exclusive Breastfeeding to Mothers                                                  12

2.5 Benefits of Exclusive Breastfeeding to Infants                                                    13

2.6 Ten Steps To Successful Breastfeeding                                                               14

2.7 Factors Influencing the Practice of Exclusive Breastfeeding among Mothers           16

2.7.1 Mother’s Educational Statues                                                                            16

2.7.2 Occupation/Employment                                                                                  17

2.7.3 Antenatal Care                                                                                                   18

2.7.4 Economics Status                                                                                              18

2.7.5 Marital Status                                                                                                    18

2.7.6. Previous Experience in breastfeeding                                                              19

2.7.7  Multiple births                                                                                                  19

2.7.8 Support from family and friends                                                                       20

2.7.9 Cultural practices                                                                                              20                                           

CHAPTER THREE

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY                     

3.1 Research Design                                                                                                                                                              22

3.2 Research Area of Study                                                                                                                                                   22

3.3 Population of the Study                                                                                                                                                   22

3.4 Sample Size                                                                                                                                                                     23

3.5 Sample Technique                                                                                                                                                           24

3.6 Study instrument                                                                                                                                                              24

3.7 Validity and reliability of measurements of data                                                                                                            25

3.8 Data collection                                                                                                                                                                 25

3.9 Statistical Analysis                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           26

3.10 Ethical Approval                                                                                                                                                            26

CHAPTER 4

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

4.1       Socio-economic and demographic characteristics                                          27

CHAPTER 5

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

5.1       Conclusion                                                                                                         37

5.2       Recommendation                                                                                               37

5.3       contribution to knowledge                                                                                 37

REFERENCES

APPENDIX   1                                                                                                                 38                                                                                                                 

APPENDIX II                                                                                                                         47

APPENDIX III                                                                                                                        48

APPENDIX IV                                                                                                                       49

APPENDIX V                                                                                                                       50

LIST OF TABLES

TABLE 4.1:    Socio-Economic Characteristics                                                        29

TABLE 4.2a    Level of knowledge of the respondents                                             30

TABLE 4.2b: Knowledge of Exclusive Breastfeeding                                             30

TABLE 4.3:    Attitude and Practices towards Exclusive Breastfeeding                        33

Table 4.4:        Constraints and Solutions to Improve Exclusive Breastfeeding                                      among Mothers in Aba South L.G.A of Abia State                            35

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Exclusive breastfeeding is a practice where the infant receives only breast milk and not even water, other liquids tea, herbal preparation or food during the first six months of life with the expectation of vitamins, minerals supplement or medicine.  Nkala and Msuya (2011), defined it as a means where  infants  receive only breast milk, with no other liquid or solid  (not even  water) with the  exception of oral rehydration solution or drops/ syrups of vitamins, minerals or medicines WHO (2011), pointed that Childhood nutrition is essential for healthy growth and development of a child in to adult life. Sadoh et al., (2011), pointed that breastfeeding is less stressful because it requires no cleaning of plates or bottles , no heating of feeding bottle,  no modification of milk  formula, it is cheaper and easier to produce, readily available and at the right temperature.

According to United Nation Children Fund (2012), it has been estimated that 1.3 million death could be prevented and most of childhood illness can be eliminated each year if babies were exclusively breastfed for the first six months of life. The breast milk contains numerous substances such as water, protein, fat, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals and colostrum which provides protective antibodies that boost the infant immune system. Exclusive breastfeeding according to (Ukaegbu et al, 2013 and Ezenwa et al., 2016), is a family concept which has not yet gained wide acceptance due to ignorance, cultural beliefs and doubts about the ability of breast milk alone to satisfy the nutritional and hydration needs of the infants in hot tropical environment. Breastfeeding helps in strengthening the mother child bond, it does not only help in making the mother child relationship more intimate but also help infant to fight diseases. This is because breast milk carries antibodies from the mother that helps combat diseases. According to Hanson La (2004), it protect infant against infections and chronic diseases. Exclusive breastfeeding reduce infant mortality rate due to common childhood illness such as diarrhea, pneumonia and helps for a quicker recovery during illness WHO (2002). It also stimulates an infant’s immune system and responses to vaccination. Breastfeeding is one of the most effective ways to ensure child health and survival.

1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Malnutrition is still high and life threatening, particularly affecting the poor, babies and children under 5 years of age (Essien et al., 2009). According to Nigerian Demographic and Health Survey NDHS (2018), exclusive breastfeeding among children age 0-6months has increased since 2013, from 17% to 29%. The median duration of any breastfeeding increased slightly from 18.3 months in 2013 to 18.5 months in 2018, while the median duration of predominant breastfeeding increased from 4.4 months to 4.9 months in 2018. The mean duration of exclusive breastfeeding increased from 1.8 months to 2.8 months in 2018. The median duration of any breastfeeding is 20.0 months among children in rural areas, as compared with 16.3 months among children in urban areas. The median duration of predominant breastfeeding is longest among children in the North East (6.2months) and South West (5.5months) and shortest in the South South (3.1months). Breastfeeding pattern are similar according to mother’s education and household wealth, the median duration of any breastfeeding is 21.4 months each among mothers with no education and those in the lowest wealth quintile, while the median durations are 14.6 and 14.5 months, respectively, among those with more than a secondary education and those in the highest wealth quintile. To help improve the  knowledge on exclusive breasting feeding practice the federal ministry of health in conjunction with WHO  and UNICEF launched the Baby-friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) to help motivate facilities providing maternity and newborn services worldwide to implement the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding (WHO 2021). High mortality rates are still persisting among the babies who are not breastfed (Ene-obong, 2001; Frazer and Cooper, 2003) UNICEF, 2005; Essien et al., 2009). Recently there has been an increase in the prevalence of malnutrition in Africa which means that the goal set to reduce the levels of malnutrition by 50% between 1990 and 2015 has not be met, Studies (Mwangome et al., 2010; Ngwu et al., 2014) have shown that poor nutrition prevents children and communities from reaching their social and economic life. However human breast milk have been discovered to be an adequate food for infants 0-2years (0-24months), it is the best nutrition for infants with the introduction of complementary foods at six months and continued breastfeeding till 2years. In Aba, majority of mothers fail to practices exclusive breastfeeding as recommended. This according to Ezenwa (2016), is caused by factors such as lack of self –security, breast soreness, poor infant positioning, mother’s perception of inadequate milk supply and lack of necessary support and information’s from health care providers. There are cultural, social and economic barriers to exclusive breast feeding including pre-lacteal feeding, giving drinking water and herbal tea. Poor exclusive feeding rate might have result from the absence of knowledge of breast feeding during antenatal visit. Infants that are subjected to poor breast feeding practices may easily become malnourished with the tendency of contributing to increased rate of mortality. The key to successful breastfeeding is Information, Education and Communication (IEC). This is aimed at behavior change, therefore, there is need for improving infant breastfeeding practices among nursing mothers in Aba South Local Government Area, Abia State.

Expect for few recent studies (Ukagbu et al.., 2013; Adebayo, leshi and Sanusi, 2014) who reported on the knowledge, belief and practices of exclusive breast feeding in Umuahia North Local Government Area of Abia State. Ezenwa et al., (2016) who reported on exclusive breastfeeding  knowledge , practices and attitude of working mothers in private schools in Aba North L.G.A of Abia State, respectively. As at the time of this study no work has been done among nursing mothers in Aba South Local Government Area, Abia state. This study therefore was aimed to assess the knowledge, attitude and practices of exclusive breastfeeding among nursing mothers in Aba South Local Government Area, Abia State. 

1.3 OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY

The general objective of this study is to ascertain the Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of exclusive breastfeeding among nursing mothers In Aba South Local Government Area of Abia State.

The specific objective of this study was to

1. Determine the socioeconomic and demographic characteristics of the respondents

2. Assess the knowledge of exclusive breastfeeding among nursing mothers of Aba south Local Government Area of Abia State

3. Determine the Attitude and Practices towards exclusive breastfeeding among nursing mothers of Aba South L.G.A.

4. Determine the Constraints and solution to improve exclusive breastfeeding among nursing mothers.

1.4 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

This study will help to enlighten nursing mothers about breastfeeding patterns, and the importance of exclusive breastfeeding in fighting malnutrition.

The result obtained from this study will help provide information to health workers such as the medical doctors, dietitians and commercial health workers in Abia State in general and Aba South LGA in particular on ways to help improve knowledge, attitude and practices of exclusive breastfeeding among mothers.

The information generated from this study, will be used for further sensitization on breastfeeding in post-natal and pre-natal out –patient clinic in all the Primary Health Centers in Aba South Local Government. Abia State.

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