Breastfeeding Awareness and Practices in Abakaliki, Southeast, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: The Federal Teaching Hospital is the only tertiary hospital in Ebonyi State Nigeria. It receives referrals from the general and private hospitals, primary health centers in the state as well as the surrounding state. Breast feeding is a social norm among the indigenes of the state hence practiced commonly. Aim: The study was aimed at determining the knowledge and practice of exclusive breast feeding among the women presenting in the hospital. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study in the maternity unit of the hospital over three months' period from March to May 2015. A structured data sheet was administered to each mother presenting in the maternity unit of the hospital and willing to participate which were consecutively recruited into the study. Results: A total of 500 mothers participated in the study. About 98.4% were aware of exclusive breast feeding while 90.2% practiced it for different reasons and duration. Only 76.4% practiced it for a period of 4 -6 months. Majority of the mothers (90.0%) got the information about exclusive breast feeding from the hospital. Times of initiation of breast feeding after delivery were 38.2% within 30 minutes and 33.2% an hour respectively. Seventy six percent of the mothers' breastfed on demand. About 91.6% were willing to practice exclusive breast feeding for subsequent babies. Surprisingly 10.2% of the mothers discarded their colostrums. Practice of exclusive breast feeding was significantly related to educational status and occupation. Conclusion: Greater awareness and practice of exclusive breastfeeding has been achieved but more still needed to be done especially about the time of initiation, giving of colostrums and the duration of exclusive breast feeding since up to 10.4% of the participants still discarded their colostrums particularly those that delivered outside the hospital.

The Association between Ethnicity and Level of Education with Exclusive Breastfeeding Practice in the Context of the Place of Residence in Nigeria

“…Furthermore, this study revealed that mothers with higher levels of education were signi cantly associated reduced levels of EBF practice in both urban and rural areas. This agrees with earlier literature, as mothers with lower levels of education are more likely to breastfeed their infants exclusively than those with higher levels of education [22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30]. This may be attributed to the fact that mothers with higher levels of education are likely to be engaged in the formal employment sector, which does not avail them with ample time and strength to adopt EBF practice.…”

“…Among the Yoruba in Ibadan, it was reported that mothers believed that feeding infant with water, infant formula/cereal gruels and herbal teas within the rst six months of life is necessary stride for child survival [24]. Among the Ibos in South East Nigeria, literature revealed that the reason for low uptake of EBF was because some mothers believed that breast milk is good enough for the baby during the EBF period, while others believe colostrums is harmful to baby, dirty, infected milk and should not be given to the baby [25]. Furthermore, among the Hausa of Adamawa in North East Nigeria, it was shown that the problems that inhibits or reduce the practice of EBF include the assumption that colostrums is stale milk, breast milk lacks su cient nutrients, expressed breast milk is contaminated milk, thought that food supplements were ideal for infants [26].…”

“…In Nigeria, different studies have been carried out on the prevalence and other factors of EBF. For instance, a study revealed that 76.4% of mothers practiced EBF for a period of 4-6months, 38.2% initiated breastfeeding within 30 minutes and 33.2% within an hour, while few breastfed on demand [25]. Also, age, educational attainment, EBF knowledge and sources of information about EBF are to be signi cant predictor of good intention to practice EBF [27].…”

“…In this context, mothers with lower education are more likely to breastfeed their infants exclusively than those with higher education [30], while a study revealed no signi cant relationship between level of education and the practice of EBF [31]. Another study reported that mothers with higher level of education were more likely to breastfeed exclusively for 6months [25], while [22] reported that mothers with at least primary education engaged in early initiation of breastfeeding compared to mothers with no schooling, while those with no formal education had higher odds of not practicing EBF compared to those with secondary education or higher. Moreover, literature has shown that level of education of mothers had positive associated with the practice of EBF [32].…”