Main Article Content
Maternal attitudes to breast feeding in the concept of the baby friendly hospital initiative
Abstract
This study assessed maternal attitudes to breast-feeding in the concept of the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative. Information was obtained through a questionnaire from 278 consecutive breast feeding mothers attending the infant welfare clinics of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital. Data included mother's educational attainment, breast-feeding in public, and during pregnancy, knowledge of breast milk storage and intention to store breast milk. Inclusion criteria included attendance at antenatal clinics of the teaching hospital, presence at antenatal clinic talk sessions and delivery at the teaching hospital. Statistical analysis was done with SSPS version 11.5 software package.
All the mothers recruited for the study had basic education, 175 (63.4%) of the mothers had secondary school education while 23 (8.4 %,), 75 (27.3%) had primary and tertiary education respectively. Majority of the mothers (95.7%, 87.4% and 86.7% of those with primary secondary and tertiary education respectively) would breast feed in public and the level of educational attainment did not influence it.( P>0.05). About one third (30.4%, 26.3% and 33.3% of those with primary secondary and tertiary education respectively) would breast feed during pregnancy. Also the level of education attained had no influence (P>0.05). A high percentage of the mothers knew that expressed breast milk could be stored though; there was no statistical difference between the mothers, who indicated intention to store breast milk. (P>0.05). There was a progressive rise in proportion of mothers who expressed intention to store breast milk with level of educational attainment.
Obnoxious cultural practices should be addressed by educated mothers who have the confidence to resist them. Female education should be strengthened as a strong weapon for child survival
Key Words: Breast feeding, Maternal attitudes, Baby friendly Hospital Initiative.
Journal of Biomedical Investigation Vol.2(2) 2004: 82-85
All the mothers recruited for the study had basic education, 175 (63.4%) of the mothers had secondary school education while 23 (8.4 %,), 75 (27.3%) had primary and tertiary education respectively. Majority of the mothers (95.7%, 87.4% and 86.7% of those with primary secondary and tertiary education respectively) would breast feed in public and the level of educational attainment did not influence it.( P>0.05). About one third (30.4%, 26.3% and 33.3% of those with primary secondary and tertiary education respectively) would breast feed during pregnancy. Also the level of education attained had no influence (P>0.05). A high percentage of the mothers knew that expressed breast milk could be stored though; there was no statistical difference between the mothers, who indicated intention to store breast milk. (P>0.05). There was a progressive rise in proportion of mothers who expressed intention to store breast milk with level of educational attainment.
Obnoxious cultural practices should be addressed by educated mothers who have the confidence to resist them. Female education should be strengthened as a strong weapon for child survival
Key Words: Breast feeding, Maternal attitudes, Baby friendly Hospital Initiative.
Journal of Biomedical Investigation Vol.2(2) 2004: 82-85
