Attitude and Perception of Nursing Mothers Towards Exclusive Breastfeeding (EBF) in Nigeria (a Case Study of Uyo Lga)
Chapter One
Aims/ Objectives of the study
The major aim of this study is to know the attitude and perception of nursing mothers towards exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) in Nigeria (a case study of Uyo LGA).
Other specific objectives include:
- To examine the factors that can hamper the practice of EBF in Uyo LGA.
- To ascertain the extent at which nursing mothers in Uyo LGA are well enlightened about EBF.
- To determine whether EBF can drastically reduce the rate of child mortality in Nigeria.
- To determine ways nursing mothers in Uyo LGA can be encouraged to practice EBF.
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
INTRODUCTION
This chapter gives an insight into various studies conducted by outstanding researchers, as well as explained terminologies with regards to attitude and perception of nursing mothers towards exclusive breast feeding in Nigeria.
The chapter also gives a resume of the history and present status of the problem delineated by a concise review of previous studies into closely related problems.
THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
Essentially, mother’s milk has antibodies which are not present in infant formula. These antibodies are what protect the body and the boost the immune system of infant to enable them fight disease. The human milk in the right proportion also helps in robust and all round development of re infant (Jones, 1993: Tiwari, Zahariya and 2008). Hence absence of such antibodies and lack of adequate nutrients and vitamins in infant’s formula, also the easy contamination of bottles and other artificial feeding methods exposes the infants to various diseases like respiratory tract disease, skin infection, diahorrea which is a serious problem in infants (Jone, 1993). Exclusive breastfeeding is encouraged and recommended to all mothers worldwide with efforts being made both in the private and public sector as a way of achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) on improving maternal health. These efforts are also directed at reducing infant morbidity and mortality related to mixed-feeding as breast milk is very vital for the newly born babies. According to UNICEF (2010), exclusive breastfeeding is giving baby breast milk only and nothing else, not even sips of water except for medicines prescribed by the doctor or nurse for the first six months of life. According to World Health Organization (2006), in 1991, United Nations International Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and World Health Organization (WHO) began an international campaign called Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative. This initiative was meant to promote, protect and support breastfeeding. Most hospitals in Nigeria have Baby Friendly Initiative. One of the ten steps for Baby Friendly Initiative states that there should be no advertising of formula products used for babies under six months. In line with this agreement, Nigeria prohibits the advertisement of such products on all media in an effort to promote exclusive breastfeeding.
Consequently, this necessited the Innocent Declaration commendation of 1990 by WHO/UNICEF Policy makers that all infants should be fed exclusively on breast milk from birth to 6 months of age (Galtry, 2003). However, this clarion call is to be answered by all mothers, in our contemporary society women are actively involved in paid job which has strict laws and codes of conduct which may not enable them have adequate time, to practice exclusive breastfeeding. In this study the researcher sets out to unravel those socio-economic determinates of exclusive breastfeeding among working mother’s in AMAC in order to give recommendations that will help improve the rate of exclusive breastfeeding.
BENEFITS OF EXCLUSIVE BREASTFEEDING TO THE CHILDREN IN NIGERIA
The advantages of exclusive breastfeeding are widely documented Dana, price, Simon & Schuster 1987).
Provision or Colostrums
During the early days after delivery breastfeeding provides the baby with the benefits of colostrums. Colostrums is the premilk substance secreted by the breasts, until milk is produced usually about the second or third postpartum day. Colostrums is rich in all baby’s essential need like vitamins, nutrients, fluids to help clear excess mucus from the or her mouth and throat, special laxative properties that help clear the baby’s intestinal tract of meconium baby’s first stool) and substances that prevent infections and allergies Jones, 1993), Breastmilk provide all the nutrient and vitamins the baby needs at least for the four to six months after birth. The baby receives everything she needs for needs for optional healthy development from the mother’s milk with no supplement (Jones, 1995).
CHAPTER THREE
METHODOLOGY
This section covers the methods used to address the objectives of the study. The section discusses the research design, research population and sampling technique, the instrument for data collection, the method of data analysis and the analytical software used for the study.
Research Design
In this study, a survey research design is adopted. Survey is chosen based on the objective of the study. Survey is defined according to Nworgu (2005) a survey studies the sampling of individual units from an already known population and its associated survey data collection techniques, such as questionnaire construction and methods for improving the number and accuracy of responses to survey.
Population of the Study
The population of this study comprises all nursing mothers and midwives in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state.
Sampling and sampling technique
A simple random sampling technique will be used to select 50 nursing mothers and 50 midwives in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state, Nigeria.
CHAPTER FOUR
PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS OF RESULTS
This section presents the results of the field study; it shows the descriptive information of the respondents, the results of each of the research questions and the test of hypothesis.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
SUMMARY OF FINDINGS
The purpose of this study is to examine the attitude and perception of nursing mothers towards exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) in Nigeria (a case study of Uyo LGA).
In this study, a survey research design was adopted, the population comprises all nursing mothers and midwives in Uyo LGA of Akwa Ibom state, a simple random sampling technique was used to select 100 respondents comprising of 50 nursing mothers and 50 midwives for the study and a questionnaire was the instrument for data collection.
The following objectives were used for the study;
- To examine the factors that can hamper the practice of EBF in Uyo LGA.
- To ascertain the extent at which nursing mothers in Uyo LGA are well enlightened about EBF.
- To determine whether EBF can drastically reduce the rate of child mortality in Nigeria.
- To determine ways nursing mothers in Uyo LGA can be encouraged to practice EBF.
The results of the findings of this work revealed that the respondents are aware of exclusive breast feeding though majority of them do not practice it. It was revealed that EBF does not drastically reduce child mortality but it reduces it to an extent. The findings also revealed that the ways nursing mothers can be encouraged to practice EBF include massive media enlightenment on the benefits of EBF; proper education of the nursing mothers; providing incentives to mothers who comply and by asking religious leaders to help convince their faithful on the need for EBF.
Finally, the result from the test of hypothesis proved that there are significant factors that can hamper the practice of EBF in Uyo LGA of Akwa Ibom state.
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
The benefits of breast feeding especially to a child and then to the mother cannot be over emphasized. Breast milk helps in the over-all development of a child; physical, mental and social development. Recently, the practice of ‘exclusive breast feeding’ is becoming part of the processes in raising a child. It has been discovered that children fed with just breast milk hardly fall ill and they look quite healthy.
Part of the findings from the study revealed that nursing mothers in Uyo LGA of Akwa Ibom state are aware of exclusive breast feeding but most of them are not practicing it based on some misconceived information on exclusive breast feeding. It is based on this that this study was carried out to clear the minds of nursing and even prospective nursing mothers in Uyo LGA of Akwa Ibom state on the much benefits of exclusive breast feeding. The test of hypothesis revealed that there are significant factors that can hamper the practice of EBF in Uyo LGA of Akwa Ibom state; such factors include: level of education, occupation, traditional beliefs/practices, mother-in-law’s influence, shifting work patterns, cultural, religious and social norms, maternal educational level, small family size, antenatal visits, sex of infants, and geographical location.
However, the attitude and perception of nursing mothers towards exclusive breast feeding in Uyo is not encouraging. Thus, based on the findings of the study, the following suggestions are recommended:
- The state government of Akwa Ibom state should organize programmes to sensitize and create awareness on exclusive breast feeding to nursing and prospective nursing mothers in the state. The government should carry out programmes that will clear the misconception that nursing mothers have towards exclusive breast feeding.
- The media in the state can equally assist through their programmes to inform, educate and sensitize nursing mothers on the benefits of exclusive breast feeding.
- The various health centers in the state should improve on the way information about exclusive breast feeding is passed across to mothers. During ante natal clinics, issues on exclusive breast feeding should be well emphasized.
- Programmes should focus on behavioral interventions, health education, and strengthen key community stakeholders with a viewto limiting factors reducing EBF.
- Girl child education should be encouraged in Akwa Ibom state as it is revealed that educational qualification is one of the factors that hamper exclusive breast feeding among nursing mothers; as educated mothers practice it more.
- Firms both private and public should give due preference to nursing mothers in Uyo LGA of Akwa Ibom state and even Nigeria as a whole, in order to encourage exclusive breast feeding by mothers. The period of their maternity leave should be extended to about six months or in the absence of that firms should think about having day care centers where nursing mothers can keep their babies on resumption from maternity leave.
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