Support for disabled mothers in exclusive breastfeeding in the Kumasi Metropolitan area, Ghana

Abstract

Objectives: The main objective of this paper was to explore the support received by disabled mothers in exclusively breastfeeding their babies in the Kumasi Metropolis. The oppression model which outlines the stress people go through under personalities who control affairs of institutions, underpinned the study.
Methods: The study used the inductive approach which relates to the qualitative methodology. In-depth interviews and focus group discussions were used in data collection. A sample of 55 made up of disabled nursing mothers, relatives of the disabled mothers and health professionals was used whilst disabled nursing mothers were traced using an official list from the Federation of the Disabled. The snowball sampling procedure was partially used to locate some disbled nursing mothers. The relatives of the disabled mothers were accidentally selected whilst the health professionals were purposefully sampled. Data were analysed thematically using the manual method.
Results: Results show that the major sources of support for disabled mothers in exclusive breastfeeding are their mothers and grandmothers. It was also observed that constraints faced by disabled nursing mothers were the untoward attitude of some health professionals and discouragement by some close relatives including mothers and grandmothers.
Conclusions: Disabled mothers are more likely to exclusively breastfeed their babies if they receive support from family members and health institutions. It is recommended that Ghana Health Policy on exclusive breastfeeding incorporate exclusive breastfeeding by disabled mothers. The ‘oppression model’ has been duly vindicated. The attitude by some health personnel and family members towards disabled lactating mothers is uncomfortable.