BREASTFEEDING PRACTICES AND RISKS OF CHILDHOOD MORBIDITY IN GHANA

ABSTRACT

In Ghana, child nutrition and health are major public health and developmental challenges. In this study, interpretivist and positivist paradigms were applied to assess breastfeeding practices and risk of childhood morbidity. The GDHS 2014 data and in-depth interviews with mothers were used. Multivariate, geospatial, and inductive analyses were employed to manage the data. The study extracted 2202 respondents and engaged 20 participants. The multivariate logistic regression analyses revealed that protective effects of breastfeeding practices against childhood morbidity disappear in the midst of other risk factors. Risk factors accounting for this operated at the individual, community, health, and environmental levels. Major hot spot districts for breastfeeding practices were: Accra Metro (not breastfeeding); DaffiamaBussie-Issa, Wa Municipality, Wa West, and Bolgatanga (exclusive); Gushiegu (predominant); and Bawku West (partial). Hot spot districts for childhood morbidity were: Savelugu-Nanton (diarrhoea); Accra Metro (ARI); Zabzugu (anaemia); and Lawra, Jirapa, and East Mamprusi (fever). Key challenges of breastfeeding practices were related to: household chores; formal and informal work schedules; family influences; low breast milk production; and swollen breasts or sore nipples. Childhood morbidity was commonly attributed to primary teeth development and eating of cold foods. To manage morbidity cases, most mothers preferred present their children at hospitals or clinics. The Ministry of Health and Ghana Health Service could use channels such as radio and television to carry out more educative programmes on breastfeeding practices, (noting potential risk factors) to reduce episodes of childhood morbidity in the country.