Knowledge, attitude and practices on timely initiation of breastfeeding among parturient women at Bugando Medical Centre, Mwanza, Tanzania
Anastazia G Senya CUHAS/MD/4002108/T/17
Knowledge, attitude and practices on timely initiation of breastfeeding among parturient women at Bugando Medical Centre, Mwanza, Tanzania - Mwanza, Tanzania Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences [CUHAS – Bugando] ©06.06.2022 - xiii; 47 Pages Includes References and Appendices
ABSTRACT:
Background; The World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) recommended that after delivery, optimal early breastfeeding practices should be encouraged. These optimal practices include initiating breastfeeding within 30 minutes to an hour of birth, giving colostrum, not giving pre-lacteals or post-lacteals and exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) of infants. This study was proposed in order to gain insights on what hinders or facilitates optimum breastfeeding in our site.
Objectives; Assessment of knowledge, attitude and practice of timely initiation of breastfeeding among parturient at Bugando Medical Center.
Methodology; Descriptive cross-sectional hospital-based study was conducted among 164 mothers who delivered at BMC with newborns aged between 0-72 hours. Maternal attitudes were measured using a five-point Likert scale. Mean scores were calculated for maternal knowledge and attitude. The association between categorical data such as the early breastfeeding knowledge, attitudes, and practices was determined using the odds ratio.
Results; The majority of the mothers (95.8%) were knowledgeable on timely initiation of breastfeeding, 96.3% knew that colostrum should be given, while 94.5% knew that post-lacteals should not be given respectively. Most mothers had a positive attitude towards aspects of early breastfeeding: timely initiation of breastfeeding (92.7%); giving colostrum (92.1%) not giving pre- and post-lacteals (95.8% and 91.5% respectively), and practicing exclusive breastfeeding (97.6%). The mothers who practiced timely initiation of breastfeeding were 75.6%. About 95.7% gave breast milk only as the first feed, 95.7% did not give post-lacteal, while 96.3% gave colostrum. Challenges to early breastfeeding were breast problems, low milk production, not being able to position and attach the baby correctly. In conclusion, mothers had good knowledge and positive attitudes towards early breastfeeding, and practiced early breastfeeding as recommended by WHO.
Conclusion and recommendation; Based on the findings of the study, it is recommended that the Ministry of Health in Tanzania should develop a policy targeting the mothers on the continuation of breastfeeding education after discharge from hospital as it has proven to be have a positive outcome towards early breastfeeding
= DEFINITION OF TERMS Timely initiation of breastfeeding: It is when a baby is put to the breast within one hour of birth according to (WHO, 2008). DEFINITION OF TERMS Skin-to-skin: Holding the baby on the mother’s bare chest with their skins coming into contact. It is done immediately after birth and also a few days after birth (WHO, 2008). DEFINITION OF TERMS Rooming-in: A method for the care of newborn infants in which the baby stays in the same room with the mother, for her to take care of the baby with the help of the nurses and doctors (WHO, 2008). DEFINITION OF TERMS Pre-lacteals: Food given to a newborn before initiation of breastfeeding hence before colostrum; for instance, milk, honey, or sugar water (WHO, 2008). DEFINITION OF TERMS Post-lacteals: Food given to a new born after initiation of breastfeeding, within three days of delivery (WHO, 2008). DEFINITION OF TERMS Exclusive breastfeeding: Giving breastmilk only to a baby after it has been born, and nothing else except vitamins, or other medicines and mineral supplements (UNICEF, 2007). DEFINITION OF TERMS Colostrum: Thick yellowish secretion from the breast within the first three days of the infant's life (WHO, 2008). = ABBREVIATIONS. BFHI: Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative BMC: Bugando Medical Centre CBOs: community-based organizations EBF: exclusive breastfeeding NGOs: Non-governmental organizations UNICEF: United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund WHO: World Health Organization
Phone: +255 28 298 3384 Fax: +255 28 298 3386 Email: vc@bugando.ac.tz Website: www.bugando.ac.tz
-- Paediatrics and Child Health--Microbiology and Immunology
Knowledge, attitude and practices on timely initiation of breastfeeding among parturient women at Bugando Medical Centre, Mwanza, Tanzania - Mwanza, Tanzania Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences [CUHAS – Bugando] ©06.06.2022 - xiii; 47 Pages Includes References and Appendices
ABSTRACT:
Background; The World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) recommended that after delivery, optimal early breastfeeding practices should be encouraged. These optimal practices include initiating breastfeeding within 30 minutes to an hour of birth, giving colostrum, not giving pre-lacteals or post-lacteals and exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) of infants. This study was proposed in order to gain insights on what hinders or facilitates optimum breastfeeding in our site.
Objectives; Assessment of knowledge, attitude and practice of timely initiation of breastfeeding among parturient at Bugando Medical Center.
Methodology; Descriptive cross-sectional hospital-based study was conducted among 164 mothers who delivered at BMC with newborns aged between 0-72 hours. Maternal attitudes were measured using a five-point Likert scale. Mean scores were calculated for maternal knowledge and attitude. The association between categorical data such as the early breastfeeding knowledge, attitudes, and practices was determined using the odds ratio.
Results; The majority of the mothers (95.8%) were knowledgeable on timely initiation of breastfeeding, 96.3% knew that colostrum should be given, while 94.5% knew that post-lacteals should not be given respectively. Most mothers had a positive attitude towards aspects of early breastfeeding: timely initiation of breastfeeding (92.7%); giving colostrum (92.1%) not giving pre- and post-lacteals (95.8% and 91.5% respectively), and practicing exclusive breastfeeding (97.6%). The mothers who practiced timely initiation of breastfeeding were 75.6%. About 95.7% gave breast milk only as the first feed, 95.7% did not give post-lacteal, while 96.3% gave colostrum. Challenges to early breastfeeding were breast problems, low milk production, not being able to position and attach the baby correctly. In conclusion, mothers had good knowledge and positive attitudes towards early breastfeeding, and practiced early breastfeeding as recommended by WHO.
Conclusion and recommendation; Based on the findings of the study, it is recommended that the Ministry of Health in Tanzania should develop a policy targeting the mothers on the continuation of breastfeeding education after discharge from hospital as it has proven to be have a positive outcome towards early breastfeeding
= DEFINITION OF TERMS Timely initiation of breastfeeding: It is when a baby is put to the breast within one hour of birth according to (WHO, 2008). DEFINITION OF TERMS Skin-to-skin: Holding the baby on the mother’s bare chest with their skins coming into contact. It is done immediately after birth and also a few days after birth (WHO, 2008). DEFINITION OF TERMS Rooming-in: A method for the care of newborn infants in which the baby stays in the same room with the mother, for her to take care of the baby with the help of the nurses and doctors (WHO, 2008). DEFINITION OF TERMS Pre-lacteals: Food given to a newborn before initiation of breastfeeding hence before colostrum; for instance, milk, honey, or sugar water (WHO, 2008). DEFINITION OF TERMS Post-lacteals: Food given to a new born after initiation of breastfeeding, within three days of delivery (WHO, 2008). DEFINITION OF TERMS Exclusive breastfeeding: Giving breastmilk only to a baby after it has been born, and nothing else except vitamins, or other medicines and mineral supplements (UNICEF, 2007). DEFINITION OF TERMS Colostrum: Thick yellowish secretion from the breast within the first three days of the infant's life (WHO, 2008). = ABBREVIATIONS. BFHI: Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative BMC: Bugando Medical Centre CBOs: community-based organizations EBF: exclusive breastfeeding NGOs: Non-governmental organizations UNICEF: United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund WHO: World Health Organization
Phone: +255 28 298 3384 Fax: +255 28 298 3386 Email: vc@bugando.ac.tz Website: www.bugando.ac.tz
-- Paediatrics and Child Health--Microbiology and Immunology