FACTORS INFLUENCING EXCLUSIVE BREASTFEEDING AMONG MOTHERS WITH INFANTS IN KINTAMPO-NORTH MUNICIPALITY

ABSTRACT

Background: Exclusive breastfeeding is essential for optimal survival, development and growth of infants. World Health Organization and United Nations Children’s Fund recommend that infants are exclusively breastfed from birth up to six months of age to achieve its benefits. However, exclusive breastfeeding rates across the world and in Ghana are below the recommended targets. This study’s aim was to investigate the socio-demographic factors, socio-cultural factors as well as identify attitudes mothers have that influence breastfeeding exclusively in the Kintampo-North Municipality.

Methods: A cross-sectional study design was carried out among 357 women of reproductive age (15-49 years) with infants zero to six months attending child welfare clinic in Kintampo. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire with closed ended questions. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to test for strength of association of socio-demographic characteristics, socio-cultural characteristics and attitudes of participants with exclusive breastfeeding.

Results: The proportion of participants that practiced exclusive breastfeeding was 68.6%. Participants who had tertiary education were 3.32 times more likely to exclusively breastfeed compared to participants with no formal education. Participants who were semi-skilled and skilled were less likely to exclusively breastfeed. Being a professional and other government employee were associated with the likelihood of breastfeeding exclusively. Again, participants who relied on Midwife/Nurse for breastfeeding information were more likely to exclusively breastfeed compared to those who relied on their mother in-law. Participants with cultures that had beliefs of giving baby water to drink before/during bathing were more likely to breastfeed exclusively compared to those

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with no belief of giving water. An association was found between participants whose culture indicated that breastfeeding is good with the likelihood of exclusive breastfeeding. Furthermore, participants who said it was difficult for them to breastfeed exclusively for six months and those who said it was difficult to breastfeed on demand were less likely to exclusively breastfeed.

Conclusion: Exclusive breastfeeding practice is sub-optimal in Kintampo-North Municipality. Exclusive breastfeeding practice is influenced by participants’ level of education, most usual occupation source and most relied source of information on breastfeeding. Health staff should intensify awareness of exclusive breastfeeding and its benefits to mothers, their spouses, families, traditional leaders and influential persons in community. Furthermore, health staff should build mother’s confidence by teaching appropriate techniques in expressing, storing and cup/spoon feeding.