THE STUDY OF EXCLUSIVE BREASTFEEDING AMONG NURSING MOTHERS
(A CASE STUDY OF SELECTED NURSING MOTHERS IN ENUGU STATE COLLEGE OF EDUCATION TECHNICAL)
ABSTRACT
This
study centers on the study of exclusive breastfeeding among nursing
mothers (A case study of the nursing mothers, in Enugu State College of
Education Technical). The basic identified problem is that in spite of
the importance of exclusive breast feeding, some nursing mothers are yet
to adopt it. Therefore, the objective of this study is to find out the
extent to which nursing mothers breastfeed their young ones and to
propel those who finds it difficult to breastfeed constantly, for them
to be able to continue pronto to exclusive breastfeeding. Consequently,
questionnaire were designed and administered while simple percentage (%)
was adopted as instrument for analysis. Moreover, the research design
of this is descriptive survey research, I used sample size of 11o and
the sample selected for the study is fifty (50) while simple sampling
technique is used. Finally, the health sectors should employ health
practitioners to sensitize nursing mothers more on the effects of
exclusive breastfeeding.
TABLE OF CONTENT
Title page
Approval page
Dedication
Acknowledgement
Abstract
Table of content
CHAPTER ONE
1.1 Introduction
1.2 Statement of the problem
1.3 Purpose of the study
1.4 Significance of the study
1.5 Scope of study
1.6 Research Question
CHAPTER TWO
Literature Review
2.1 Review of related literature
2.2 Study of exclusive breastfeeding adoption
2.3 Empirical studies on exclusive breastfeeding
2.4 Summary of literature review.
CHAPTER THREE
3.1 Research Design and Methodology
3.2 Areas of study
3.3 Population for the study
3.4 Sample and sampling technique
3.5 Instrument for Data collection
3.6 Validity of instrument
3.7 Reliability of instrument
3.8 Method of data analysis
CHAPTER FOUR
4.1 Presentation of data and analysis
CHAPTER FIVE
5.1 Summary of findings
5.2 Conclusion
5.3 Recommendation
References
Appendix I - Letter of Introduction
Appendix II Questionnaires
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
Breast
feeding which is the act of feeding babies with breast milk. This is a
universal cultural practice among human species of all races. However,
there are commonly observable variations in the frequency and
exclusiveness of application of breast milk in the feeding of babies.
This is noted by Berg and Brenms (1989) who asserted that the question
about breastfeeding is not whether it is being practiced or not, but the
degree of practice. There are, therefore types of breastfeeding of
which three categories are discernible from literature: Exclusive,
predominant and complementary breastfeeding.
Exclusive breastfeeding
(EBF) is the application of breast milk alone in the feeding of a baby
for at least four months and if possible six months of life, without the
addition of water, food or drinks. The baby however receives vitamins,
minerals and medicines in the form of drops and syrup as need arises
(WHO,1981). The World Health Organization WHO (2001) received the
optional duration of EBF to six months of life. The second type of
breastfeeding, predominant breastfeeding (PBF), on the other hand,
implies that the infants predominant source of nourishment is breast
milk. The infant in this type receives in addition of breast milk, water
and water based drinks (WHO 2001). Complimentary breastfeeding (CBF) or
mixed feeding occurs where factory produced baby formula is the primary
source of nourishment for the infant, the breast milk given
occasionally. This practice offers mother chance to attend to their
daily activities while nannies and house helps attend to babies: This
present study was however concerned with exclusive breastfeeding.
Promotion
of breastfeeding, particularly EBF, has been the focus of many public
health and nutrition programmes and activities in recent years. Thus a
joint World health Organization/ united Nations children’s fund
(WHO/UNICEF) meeting on infant and young child feeding was held in
Genera in 1979 and the emphasis was on breast feeding. In 1981 the
combined force of the W.H.O and UNICEF produced the W.H.O international
code of marketing of breast milk substitute. The main aim of the code
obviously was to safeguard the practice of breast feeding. To enhance
breastfeeding practices, WHO launched the baby friendly hospital
initiative in 1992 as a primary intervention strategy for promoting and
strengthening national health systems. The initiative has been
implemented in 138 countries (including Nigeria) and the number of
hospitals world wide designated baby friendly has risen from 6,300 in
1995 to nearly 40,000 by mid 2008 (WHO, 2009). Cataldo De Bryne and
whitney (1999) asserted that EBF is an unequalled way of providing
ideal food for the healthy growth and development of infants. The
authors explained that nutritionally, breast milk is a complete food for
the infant, providing all the nutrients needed for the first month of
life.
Psychologically, breastfeeding permits an initial bonding
between mother and child. Economically, breast-milk economizes on house
hold expenditures on food and requires no itensils, water or fuel for
preparation. However, the lactating woman do not have higher nutrient
requirements and make substantial time to breastfeeding. Berg and Brenms
(1989) cited breast milk for it’s anti-infective properties, lower
incidence of diarrhea diseases, allergies and other illness among
breastfed infants. It removes the danger of malnutrition caused by
dilution of bottle feed and of infection caused by unhygienic
preparation (Berg and Brenms, 1989).
However, it seems that EBF is
still not widely accepted campaign by government and non-governmental
organizations has gone far, but it appears not to be yielding expected
dividend. The question that are yet to be answered, lies in determining
those factors which can predict levels of acceptance or rejection of
EBF. Possible predictor could be sourced from social mographic
circumstances of the mothers. For instance such social demographic
factors as religious affiliation, occupation, educational status,
parity, age, as well as location are deemed to be capable of influencing
adoption of exclusive breastfeeding. Parity has to do with the number
of deliveries a woman has had. Breastfeeding, in Nigeria is still the
norm as most mothers breastfeed their babies traditionally. However,
exclusive breastfeeding is an innovation to the traditional way of
feeding an infant where mothers starts complementary feeding as early as
two months of life or even less. A woman who has nursed several babies
successfully before may not be easily convinced to stop by giving her
infant water and native concoction. She may not see why she should
change her method of feeding, since she has successfully used such to
nurse her older children (Mathai, 1983).
Age is sometimes associated
with breast feeding. Omololu (1996) pointed out that younger mothers
tended to be fashion conscious believing that their breast would sag if
they get involved in breastfeeding. The younger mothers may also be
over conscious of their body and looks and may not be willing to
breastfeed the baby anywhere as the baby demand. Location as indicated
by Okehialam (1986), Berg and Brems (1989), Barnes, Harjit and Stephers
(1990), Cataldo (1990), Guashuddin and kalair (2004), Okehialam is an
environmental factor, which could also be associated with breast feeding
pattern. In the rural area, the extended family system still
predominates and the nursing mothers to adopt or reject exclusive
breastfeeding may be dependent on who takes health decision in the
family. This, of course, could be the mother-in-law, father-in-law, or
any of the extended family members who is close by. In the urban area,
the nuclear family predominates and the decision to adopt EBF will be
only between the woman and her husband. Apart from this, the mother in
the urban area may have to go to school or work which will take her out
of the house regularly. This may have an impact on adoption of EBF,
since the mother is likely not going to school with her baby and may not
have opportunity to comeback and breastfeed the baby when necessary.
Occupation
of the mother place the mother in a social class. The mother may tend
to follow what is fashionable or acceptable within the social class in
which she be long (Wanmani and Tumwine, 2005). Hence if the social class
sees bottle feeding as a mark of affluence, a mother in that class will
likely go for bottle feeding. Religion is a predicate and a repository
of culture which is a way of life of a people. The mother’s religion
may be a pointer to the choice of feeding method the mother is likely to
adopt for her infant (Njepuome, 1995). The success of any programme, to
a large extent, depends on identification of factors that are
susceptible to it’s intervention. The programme of EBF and the intensive
media campaign attendant to it as part of the baby friendly initiative
of WHO/UNICEF are receiving differential responses from Nigeria
population. It seemed that no elaborate study has been conducted in the
Enugu State College of Education Technical to identify fact or rejection
f EBF. The study of EBF factors are most likely to serve the predictive
function in Enugu State College of Education Technical.
STATEMENT OF PROBLEMS
Exclusive
breastfeeding is a new method of breastfeeding which has been
introduced by WHO/UNIEF. These two bodies have tasted it and find it
successful for solving many problems in an infant.
Unfortunately, few mothers adopt exclusive breast feeding (Grange,
1992); WHO, 2001) What could be peculiar to them? What do they have in
common which are lacking among those who reject exclusive breastfeeding?
This study explore nursing mothers with a view of finding answers to
these questions.
PURPOSE OF THE STUDY
The study is embarked up to enable the researcher address the following objectives.
1. The degree of EBF by nursing mothers.
2. The relationship between educational status and the nursing mothers level of adoption of EBF.
3. The relationship between age an the nursing mothers’ level of adoption of EBF.
4. Extent of relationship between parity and the nursing mothers level of adoption of EBF.
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY.
A
study of this kind will be useful in many ways. There will be research
if the nursing mothers in Enugu State College of Education Technical do
practice EBF. The finding will be useful to health educators and all
those interested in passing the information based on the principles of
EBF. If the finding prove negative, then suggestions will be to health
educators especially those working with mothers the need to increase
their effort towards the teaching of the principles and practice of EBF
to mothers.
This finding will be useful to such government
agencies as UNICEF and WHO, who are interested in promoting EBF. Thus
they will use the finding to evaluate the EBF programe so far and also
plan strategies for improvement.
There will be research on
parity, religious affiliation, age and location to the effect of EBF
adoption in the area of study. Knowing this will help health workers,
particularly health educators in planning their health instruction and
teachings of EBF. Attention should then be given to all nursing mothers
irrespective of parity, age, religious affiliation to help and encourage
them to adopt EBF.
SCOPE OF STUDY
The research attempts to
give an insight into the importance of adopting Exclusive breast
feeding. The area covered by this study is Enugu State College of
Education (Technical).
RESEARCH QUESTION
The following research questions will guide the study.
1. What is the extent of EBF adoption by nursing mothers in Enugu State College of Education (Technical).
2. How does educational status of nursing mothers relate to their extent of adoption of EBF.
3. To What extent does parity relate to adoption of EBF by nursing mothers in the College.
4. What is the relationship between the age of the mother and adoption of EBF.