Exclusive Breastfeeding Knowledge, Intention to Practice and Predictors among Primiparous Women in Enugu South-East, Nigeria

Abstract

Breastfeeding is considered as the most complete nutritional source for infants because breast milk contains the essential carbohydrates, fats, proteins, and immunological factors needed for infants to thrive and resist infection in the formative first year of life. Knowledge of exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) among women is essential when promoting optimal breastfeeding practices. This cross-sectional descriptive survey assessed knowledge and intention to practice EBF and its associated factors during pregnancy among primiparous women in selected communities in Enugu State, Nigeria. A total population study that applied inclusion criteria was used to recruit 201 primiparous mothers attending their third trimester antenatal care from selected health facilities in rural and urban communities in Enugu State. A researcher-developed questionnaire was used to collect data on participants' knowledge and intention to practice EBF. Descriptive statistics of frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation were used to summarize categorical and continuous variables while Chi-square and Wald statistic tests predicted demographic data associated with knowledge status and intention to practice EBF of the participants. More than half (58.7%) of primiparous mothers had inadequate knowledge of EBF and only 62.7% had intention to exclusively breastfeed for 4–6 months. The Chi-square test result showed significant difference in the participants' place of residence (p = 0.024), EBF knowledge sources (p = 0.001), and EBF knowledge. The Wald statistic in Logistic regression model indicated the coefficient of age (p = 0.026), educational attainment (p = 0.046), EBF knowledge (p = 0.016), and sources of information about EBF (p = 0.027) to be significant predictors of good intention to practise EBF. Poor EBF knowledge and intention to practice in this population may be improved by combining facility-based and in-house methods of breastfeeding counseling, education, and support especially to intending and expectant mothers. Further studies are needed to be done using the multiparous women as well as assessing the effects of in-house EBF supportive-educative intervention to improve breastfeeding outcomes.

Breastfeeding Practices among Mothers in Southwest Nigeria

“…In this study maternal age had no association with the practice of exclusive breastfeeding. Similar finding was reported in a previous study done in Sagamu (22).There are conflicting reports on the influence of maternal educational status on breastfeeding practice (12,23,(33)(34)(35). In this study maternal educational status had no association with the practice of exclusive breastfeeding; similar finding was reported by researchers in Sokoto, north-west Nigeria (28).…”

“…In this study maternal educational status had no association with the practice of exclusive breastfeeding; similar finding was reported by researchers in Sokoto, north-west Nigeria (28). In Enugu, south-east Nigeria, mothers that attained tertiary level of educational were found to be more likely to breastfeed exclusively when compared with those with lower educational attainment (33). Similar finding was reported by Ogbo et al (34).…”

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.…”

“…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 addition, rural mothers with low socioeconomic status, early initiation of breastfeeding and delivery assistance have been shown to be more likely to practice EBF [28].…”

Determinants of the low practice, knowledge and attitude of exclusive breastfeeding in four health centres of the Talangaï Health District, Congo

“…Kazaura's work in Tanzania has similar results to ours 14 . These results differ from those of Ihudiebube-Splendor et al in Nigeria, who showed that neither age, marital status, nor profession were associated with a satisfactory level of knowledge of EBF 28 . This difference is explained by the fact that our study concerned all women, unlike Ihudiebube-Splendor, who worked only with primiparas.…”