Relationship Between Breastfeeding Behavior and Child Spacing
CHAPTER ONE
OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
The Main Objective of the study is to appraise the Relationship between breast feeding behavior and child spacing among women in odogbolu local government area in ogun state. The specific objectives include:
- To determine the relevance of breastfeeding among women.
- To determine the importance of child spacing among women.
- To determine the relationship between breastfeeding behavior and child spacing among women.
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
Birth Spacing
Birth spacing refers to the time from one child’s birth until the next pregnancy, also known as the interpregnancy interval. Pregnancies that start less than 18 months after birth are associated with delayed prenatal care and adverse birth outcomes, including preterm birth, neonatal morbidity, and low birthweight. Further, these poor birth outcomes are often associated with ongoing health problems such as developmental delay, asthma, and vision and hearing loss.4 In the United States, between 2006 and 2010, about 33% of pregnancies among women with a previous live birth began less than 18 months after the prior birth, placing mothers and infants at risk for adverse health outcomes. Access to services that promote appropriate birth spacing can reduce the risk for poor birth outcomes such as preterm birth and low birthweight. The March of Dimes promotes birth spacing interventions that are supported by scientific evidence and are most effective in improving maternal and child health outcomes. The March of Dimes urges every woman to consult with a health care provider to select an approach to family planning and birth spacing consistent with her needs and beliefs
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
INTRODUCTION
In this chapter, we described the research procedure for this study. A research methodology is a research process adopted or employed to systematically and scientifically present the results of a study to the research audience viz. a vis, the study beneficiaries.
RESEARCH DESIGN
Research designs are perceived to be an overall strategy adopted by the researcher whereby different components of the study are integrated in a logical manner to effectively address a research problem. In this study, the researcher employed the survey research design. This is due to the nature of the study whereby the opinion and views of people are sampled. According to Singleton & Straits, (2009), Survey research can use quantitative research strategies (e.g., using questionnaires with numerically rated items), qualitative research strategies (e.g., using open-ended questions), or both strategies (i.e., mixed methods). As it is often used to describe and explore human behaviour, surveys are therefore frequently used in social and psychological research.
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS
INTRODUCTION
This chapter presents the analysis of data derived through the questionnaire and key informant interview administered on the respondents in the study area. The analysis and interpretation were derived from the findings of the study. The data analysis depicts the simple frequency and percentage of the respondents as well as interpretation of the information gathered. A total of eighty (80) questionnaires were administered to respondents of which only seventy-seven (77) were returned and validated. This was due to irregular, incomplete and inappropriate responses to some questionnaire. For this study a total of 77 was validated for the analysis.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
Introduction
It is important to ascertain that the objective of this study was to ascertain relationship between breastfeeding behavior and child spacing. In the preceding chapter, the relevant data collected for this study were presented, critically analyzed and appropriate interpretation given. In this chapter, certain recommendations made which in the opinion of the researcher will be of benefits in addressing the challenges of relationship between breastfeeding behavior and child spacing
Summary
This study was on relationship between breastfeeding behavior and child spacing. Three objectives were raised which included: To determine the relevance of breastfeeding among women, to determine the importance of child spacing among women and to determine the relationship between breastfeeding behavior and child spacing among women. A total of 77 responses were received and validated from the enrolled participants where all respondents were drawn from selected women from Odogbolu local government area in Ogun state. Hypothesis was tested using Chi-Square statistical tool (SPSS).
Conclusion
Our study showed that appropriate and specific partner breastfeeding support can influence a mother’s decision to initiate and continue breastfeeding in the early postnatal period. Verbal encouragement to new mothers from their partners was the most common form of support to improve breastfeeding behaviors. Other specific types of partner supportive actions that led to improved breastfeeding behaviors included sensitivity of the partner to the nursing mother’s needs, assistance in preventing and managing breastfeeding difficulties, and helping with household and child care duties. Breastfeeding interventions for new mothers should consider the involvement of partners and their specific roles to maximize impacts.
Recommendation
Breast-feeding has an important untapped potential as a natural family planning method because of its effect on child-spacing. This is particularly true for mothers who lack access to artificial family planning methods or who are dissatisfied with their inconvenience or potential side-effects. Guidelines are therefore needed on the most appropriate timing of the introduction of other family planning methods in specific environments, based on prevailing breast-feeding patterns and the duration of lactational amenorrhoea.
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