The Practice of Exclusive Breastfeeding and Its Sociodemographic Determinants amongst Nursing Mothers at a Tertiary Health Care Institution in South East, Nigeria
Background:Breastfeeding is a natural and critical act that
provides nutrients and energy for the infant and young child; and through a
public health intervention such as exclusive breastfeeding, it improves the
survival rates of the infant. Objective: To determine the breastfeeding
practices and the sociodemographic determinants of exclusive breastfeeding
amongst nursing mothers present at the Imo state university teaching hospital
Orlu. Methods:A cross
sectional analytical study design was used that included all nursing mothers
present within a 4 week study period. Data was collected using a structured
questionnaire. Descriptive analyses were done with frequencies and summary
statistics. Chi square statistics were computed to determine significant
associations and binary logistic regression was used to determine
sociodemographic predictors of exclusive breastfeeding practice. P value was
set at 0.05 significant level. Results: While most of the respondents
were aware of exclusive breastfeeding (92.5%), only 24% of the respondents were
practicing exclusive breastfeeding. Work and school activities, and the feeling
that breast milk was insufficient for the needs of the baby were the reasons
for not practicing exclusive breastfeeding for a majority of the respondents
(56.6%). Furthermore, 61% of those that were practicing non-exclusive breast
feeding gave a cereal or infant formula in addition to the breast milk for 3 to
6 months. It was further revealed that there were statistically significant
relationships between breastfeeding practice and maternal age (p=0.003),
level of maternal education (p=0.005)
and maternal occupation (p=0.006). Conclusion: Understanding and taking into cognizance the
sociodemographic characteristics will enable the design, and adequate delivery
of appropriate and effective strategies that improve exclusive breastfeeding
practice.
World Health Organization (WHO) (2017) Nutrition; Promoting Proper Feeding for Infants and Young Children. http://www.who.int/nutrition/topics/infantfeeding/en/
United Nations Working Group on Discrimination against Women in Law and in Practice, and the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child (UN Special Rapporteurs) (2016) The Joint Statement on the Right to Food and the Right to Health. http://www.who.int/nutrition/topics/UNhumanrights-statement-breastfeeding-rights/en/
World Health Organization (WHO) (2012) World Breastfeeding Week-2012-Pledge Now: 20 Years World Breastfeeding Week Partnership for Maternal, Newborn & Child Health. http://www.who.int/pmnch/media/news/2012/2012_world_breastfeeding_week/en/index1.html
National Population Commission (NPC) (Nigeria) and ICF International (2014) Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey 2013. NPC and ICF International, Abuja and Rockville.
Victora, C.G., Bahl, R., Barros, J.D., Franca, V.A., Horton, S., Krasevec, J., et al. (2016) Breastfeeding in the 21st Century: Epidemiology, Mechanisms, and Lifelong Effect. The Lancet, 387, 475-490.
Edmond, K., Zandoh, C., Quigley, M. A., Amenga-Etego, S., Owusu-Agyei, S. and Kirkwood, B. (2006) Delayed Breastfeeding Initiation Increases Risk of Neonatal Mortality. Pediatrics, 117, E380-E386. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2005-1496
Rollins, N.C., Bhandari, N., Hajeebhoy, N., Horton, S., Lutter, C.K., Martines, J.C., et al. (2016) Why Invest, and What It Will Take to Improve Breastfeeding Practices? The Lancet, 387, 491-504.
National Population Commission and Federal Republic of Nigeria (2006) Population and Housing Census: Priority-Table-Volume III. http://www.population.gov.ng/index.php/censuses
Alade, O., Titiloye, M.A., Oshiname, F.O. and Arulogun, O.S. (2013) Exclusive Breastfeeding and Related Antecedent Factors among Lactating Mothers in a Rural Community in Southwest Nigeria. International Journal of Nursing and Midwifery, 5, 132-138.
Agunbiade, O.M. and Ogunleye, O.V. (2012) Constraints to Exclusive Breastfeeding Practice among Breastfeeding Mothers in Southwest Nigeria: Implications for Scaling Up. International Breastfeeding Journal, 7, 5. https://doi.org/10.1186/1746-4358-7-5
Ukegbu, A.U., Ebenebe, E.U., Ukegbu, P.O. and Onyeonoro, U.U. (2011) Determinants of Breastfeeding Pattern among Nursing Mothers in Anambra State, Nigeria. East African Journal of Public Health, 8, 226-231.
Ugboaja, J.O., Berthrand, N.O., Igwegbe, A.O. and OBI-Nwosu, A.L. (2013) Barriers to Postnatal Care and Exclusive Breastfeeding among Urban Women in South Eastern Nigeria. Nigerian Medical Journal, 54, 45-50. https://doi.org/10.4103/0300-1652.108895
Okafor, I.P., Olatona, F.A. and Olufemi, O.A. (2014) Breastfeeding Practices of Mothers of Young Children in Lagos, Nigeria. Nigerian Journal of Paediatrics, 41, 43-47.
Sholeye, O.O., Abosede, O.A. and Salako, A.A. (2015) Exclusive Breastfeeding and Its Associated Factors among Mothers in Sagamu, Southwest Nigeria. Journal of Health Science, 5, 25-31.
Peterside, O., Kunle-olowu, O.E. and Duru, C. (2013) Knowledge and Practice of Exclusive Breastfeeding among Mothers in Gbarantoru Community, Bayelsa State, Nigeria. IOSR Journal of Dental and Medical Sciences, 12, 34-40. https://doi.org/10.9790/0853-1263440
Adewuyi, E.O. and Adefemi, K. (2016) Breastfeeding in Nigeria: A Systematic Review. International Journal of Community Medicine and Public Health, 3, 385-396. https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20160421
Asma, M.Q., Oche, M.O., Umar, A.S. and Sabitu, K. (2011) Using Community Volunteers to Promote Exclusive Breastfeeding in Sokoto State, Nigeria. Pan African Medical Journal, 10, 8.
Ogbo, F.A., Agho, K.E. and Page, A. (2015) Determinants of Suboptimal Breastfeeding Practices in Nigeria: Evidence from the 2008 Demographic and Health Survey. BMC Public Health, 15, 259. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-015-1595-7
Gayawan, E., Adebayo, S.B. and Chitekwe, S. (2014) Exclusive Breastfeeding Practice in Nigeria: A Bayesian Stepwise Regression Analysis. Maternal and Child Health Journal, 18, 2148-2157. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-014-1463-6
Alemayehu, T., Haidar, J. and Habte, D. (2009) Determinants of Exclusive Breast Feeding Practice in Ethiopia. Ethiopian Journal of Health Development, 23, 13-18. https://doi.org/10.4314/ejhd.v23i1.44832
Seid, A.M., Yesuf, M.E. and Koye, D.N. (2013) Prevalence of Exclusive Breastfeeding Practices and Associated Factors among Mothers in Bahir Dar City, Northwest Ethiopia: A Community Based Cross-Sectional Study. International Breastfeeding Journal, 8, 14. https://doi.org/10.1186/1746-4358-8-14
Onah, S., Osuorah, D.I., Ebenebe, J., Ezechukwu, C., Ekwochi, U. and Ndukwu, I. (2014) Infant Feeding Practices and Maternal Socio-Demographic Factors That Influence Practice of Exclusive Breastfeeding among Mothers in Nnewi South-East Nigeria: A Cross-Sectional and Analytical Study. International Breastfeeding Journal, 9, 6. https://doi.org/10.1186/1746-4358-9-6
