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Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices of Men Towards Breastfeeding Women in Mongomo, Guinea Equatorial
Abstract
The Study aims to evaluate how Men's Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices (KAP) affect successful lactation and breastfeeding in Mongomo town and its environs.
A prospective study of 262 randomly selected men using a semi-structured questionnaire was carried out between October-December 1997.
Majority (93.13%) of the respondents had experienced nursing a baby previously with their spouses. This general awareness is further exemplified by 66.41% respondents who felt that breastfeeding should be continued for 1-2 years, exclusively for 4 months (70.23%) and on-demand (50%) irrespective of age, level of education and marital status. younger, married men with minimum of secondary education are more willing to allow their wives or live-in-lovers to exclusively breastfeed for 4 months, engage in sexual relationship with their spouses during lactation, permit the use of family planning services when compared with the older married men with little or no education (p <0.001).
The study recommends behavioural and attitudinal changes in men within the intrinsic cultural millieu in which the men operate which will guarranty successful lactation and breast feeding practices in women.
Nigerian Medical Practitioner Vol. 45 No 4, 2004 (61-66)
A prospective study of 262 randomly selected men using a semi-structured questionnaire was carried out between October-December 1997.
Majority (93.13%) of the respondents had experienced nursing a baby previously with their spouses. This general awareness is further exemplified by 66.41% respondents who felt that breastfeeding should be continued for 1-2 years, exclusively for 4 months (70.23%) and on-demand (50%) irrespective of age, level of education and marital status. younger, married men with minimum of secondary education are more willing to allow their wives or live-in-lovers to exclusively breastfeed for 4 months, engage in sexual relationship with their spouses during lactation, permit the use of family planning services when compared with the older married men with little or no education (p <0.001).
The study recommends behavioural and attitudinal changes in men within the intrinsic cultural millieu in which the men operate which will guarranty successful lactation and breast feeding practices in women.
Nigerian Medical Practitioner Vol. 45 No 4, 2004 (61-66)
