TABLE OF CONTENTS
DECLARATION ............................................................................................................................. i
APPROVAL ................................................................................................................................... ii
DEDICATION...............................................................................................................................iii
DEFINITION OF CONCEPTS ...................................................................................................... v
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS......................................................................................................... x
ABSTRACT................................................................................................................................... xi
CHAPTER ONE............................................................................................................................. 1
INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................................... 1
1.1Background of the study ............................................................................................................ 1
1.2 Problem Statement.................................................................................................................... 3
1.3 Objectives of the Study............................................................................................................. 4
1.3.1 Main objective.................................................................................................................... 4
1.3.2 Specific objectives.............................................................................................................. 4
1.4 Research questions.................................................................................................................... 4
1.5 Justification of the study ........................................................................................................... 4
1.6. Scope of the study.................................................................................................................... 5
1.6.1 Time of the study................................................................................................................ 5
1.6.2 Content scope ..................................................................................................................... 5
1.6.3 Geographical ...................................................................................................................... 5
1.7 Conceptual frame work............................................................................................................. 5
CHAPTER TWO ............................................................................................................................ 6
LITERATURE REVIEW ............................................................................................................... 6
2.2Duration of breastfeeding .......................................................................................................... 6
2.4 Factors influencing breastfeeding............................................................................................. 6
2.4.1 Education status.................................................................................................................. 6
2.4.2 Antenatal Care visits .......................................................................................................... 7
vii
2.4.3 Psychosocial factors........................................................................................................... 7
2.4.4 Demographic characteristics.............................................................................................. 7
2.4.5 Cultural beliefs................................................................................................................... 8
2.4.6 Social economic status....................................................................................................... 8
2.4.7 Maternal knowledge and practices of breastfeeding.......................................................... 9
2.4.8 Other factors Influencing Breastfeeding ............................................................................ 9
CHAPTER THREE ...................................................................................................................... 11
METHODOLOGY ....................................................................................................................... 11
3.1 Study design............................................................................................................................ 11
3.2 Study area................................................................................................................................ 11
3.4 Study population ..................................................................................................................... 11
3.5 Sampling method .................................................................................................................... 11
3.6Sample size determination ....................................................................................................... 11
3.7 Inclusion and exclusion criteria. ............................................................................................. 12
3.7.1Inclusion criteria................................................................................................................ 12
3.7.2 Exclusion Criteria in the study......................................................................................... 12
3.8 Data Collection tools............................................................................................................... 12
3.9 Data quality control................................................................................................................. 12
3.9 Data analysis........................................................................................................................... 12
3.10Ethical considerations............................................................................................................ 13
3.11 Study limitations................................................................................................................... 13
RESULTS ..................................................................................................................................... 13
4.1 Demographic characteristics of the study participants ...................................................... 13
4.2 Timing and duration of breastfeeding among mothers...................................................... 14
4.3 Factors affecting duration and timing of breast feeding among mothers ......................... 15
CHAPTER FIVE .......................................................................................................................... 25
DISCUSSION, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS.............................................. 25
5.1 DISCUSSION.................................................................................................................... 25
5.2 CONCLUSIONS................................................................................................................ 27
5.3 RECOMMENDATIONS................................................................................................... 28
ABSTRACT Background: Breast feeding has numerous benefits for both the mother and the child including saving lives, improving child health among others. Despite the numerous known benefits of breast feeding, exclusive breast feeding among children under six months has remained below the 50% target of the World Health Assembly. Objectives: the study was aimed at determining the duration and factors associated with breast feeding among mothers attending ANC at Rakai District Hospital. Method: The study was cross-sectional involving administration of questionnaires to 112 mothers attending ANC at Rakai District Hospital. Results: 20.5% of the participants breastfeed their babies immediately, while 33.0% breastfeed after one hour. 58.0% of the participants breastfed exclusively for six months, 18.6% breast fed for less than six months. However, among those who breastfeed generally, 25.9% breast fed for 6-12 months, and 21.4% breastfed for 1-2 years. 90.1% of the mothers who had knowledge on exclusive breastfeeding and overall general breastfeeding, of whom 73.2% had attended ANC during pregnancy. Most of the mothers who breast fed had parity of greater than seven (32.1%), and had attained primary level education (41, 1%). Conclusion: The study shows that most mothers exclusively breastfed their babies for a period of less than six months, and overall breast feeding for less than two years. In this study the duration of exclusive breastfeeding and overall breastfeeding was directly associated with parity, maternal age, education level, antenatal service and knowledge of mothers on breastfeeding
