Effectiveness of traditional birth attendants-led Health Education intervention on exclusive breastfeeding in West Pokot County, Kenya

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess effect of traditional birth attendants (TBAs)-led health education intervention on practice  of exclusive breastfeeding m(EBF) in West Pokot County, Kenya.

Design: Quasi experimental design was used.

Setting: The study was carried out in rural part of West Pokot County.

Research participants: Expectant women aged 15-49 years.

Intervention: Training of TBAs on practice of EBF. TBAs were assigned to expectant mothers to educate them on benefits of EBF and  encourage them to practice EBF for the 1st 6 months after delivery.

Outcome measures: Chi-square test was used to determine  difference on EBF practices among mothers in intervention and control arms. Binary logistic regression was used to estimate the  likelihood of EBF practice during the 1st 6 months of life between intervention and control arms.

Results: From the 338 (177 control arm  and 161 intervention arm) study participants at end-line, the mean age (in years) was 26.2±2.7 and 26.9±5.9 for control and intervention  arms respectively. Majority 88.2% (control) & 91.3% (intervention) of participants were married. Slightly above average 104(58.757%) from  control arm had no formal schooling & 95 (59.006%) from intervention had up to primary level of schooling respectively. Most  mothers in intervention 152(95%) practiced EBF compared to 41(23.3%) in control arm (χ2=176.267, p<0.001). Those in the intervention  were almost 63 times more likely to practice EBF than those in control; Unadjusted Odds Ratios (UOR; 62.561; 95%CI: 28.330-138.152)  

Conclusion: More mothers practiced EBF in intervention arm, than did those in control arm. As such, TBAs-led intervention had positive  effect on EBF practice.