Knowledge And Factors Associated With The Practice Exclusive Breast Feeding Among Pregnant Mothers In Holy Rosary Hospital Emekuku, Owerri North L.G.A Imo State

ABSTRACT

The study is on “knowledge and factors associated with the practice exclusive breast feeding among pregnant mothers in holy rosary hospital Emekuku, Owerri North L.G.A Imo State.” The study has four objectives and four research questions.  Descriptive research design was used for the study. The target population was 100 Nursing mothers who come for immunization in antenatal clinic of Holy Rosary Hospital Emekuku. A convenience of accidental sample was adopted in getting information from the subjects – 100 is selected as the sample size. The instrument for data collection was a self-structured Questionnaire. Its development was based on the research questions for the study. The findings of this study revealed that exclusive breast feeding is the feeding of an infant with no other food or drink besides breast milk. Exclusive breast feeding never practiced till the optimal duration of 6 months, the benefits of exclusive breast feeding include less diarrhea, less expensive, boost immunity and high intelligence. The benefits of exclusive breast feeding include less diarrhea, less expensive, boost immunity and high intelligence. Based on the findings, the study therefore recommends that family members to support the mothers in practicing of exclusive breast feeding. Nurses should organize seminars, workshops and Health talks on exclusive breast feeding up to the grass root level. Hospitals and health care centers should be baby friendly that is not allowing artificial feed in their hospitals and health care centers. Health care personnels should health educate mothers on exclusive breast feeding and its advantages.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1   BACKGROUND OF STUDY

National and international guidelines recommend that all infants should be exclusively breastfeed till six months of age. Exclusive breast feeding has dramatically reduced the rate of infant mortality and morbidity rate since it helps to reduce diarrhea and other related infection. (Amin, 2011).

Exclusive breast feeding has been defined by the WHO as the situation where “the infant receives only breast milk from his/her mother or a wet nurse or expressed breast milk and no other liquids, or solids with the exception of drops or syrups consisting of vitamins minerals, supplements or medicines.

Prior to the twentieth century alternatives to 15^th century by Europe to the use of cow milk or goat milk we are not positive. In 18^th century, flour, cereals (mixed with both) were introduced as a substitute for breast feeding but this do not have a favourable outcome either.

True commercial infants formals appeared in the 19^th century but their use did not become widespread until after WWII. As the superior qualities of breast milk become better established in medical literatures breast feeding rate have enacted measured to protect the right of infant, and mothers to breast feed.

However mobrbacher and stock, (2013) contributed that mothers believed that breast feeding is the best nutrition for infants growth and health but the value of exclusive breast feeding is not well understood. Literate mothers who had professional both attendance clinics initiate breast feeding early.

1.2   Statement of Problem

In Emekuku Community, using Holy Rosary Hospital Emekuku. It was made compulsory that every Wednesday of the week. Pregnant mother should be health educated based on the prenatal preparation toward the welcome of the new born baby.

Despite the information related to exclusive breast feeding and more especially that of policy statement made by American Academy of pediatrics in 1997, it has been observed that most children still die of respiratory tract infection, enterocolitis e.t.c. discussion with a good number of Nursing mothers in Holy Rosary Hospital Emekuku revealed that most mothers do not know much about exclusive breast feeding and hence never practiced it.

These findings prompted the probing into the knowledge of factors associated with the practice of exclusive breast feeding among pregnant mothers in Holy Rosary Hospital Emekuku Community Owerri North Local Government Area, Imo state.

Thus a research on Nursing mothers knowledge of factor associated with practice of exclusive breast feeding become relevant to health care services development especially nursing profession.

1.3   OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

To assess the level of knowledge of Nursing mothers towards exclusive breast feeding in Emekuku Community, Owerri North Local Government Area, Imo State.

To ascertain the level of practice of exclusive breast feeding among pregnant mothers in Holy Rosary Hospital Emekuku.

To identify the factors associated with the practice of exclusive breast feeding in Emekuku Community.

To determine the benefits of exclusive breast feeding

1.4   RESEARCH QUESTIONS

What are the benefits of exclusive breast feeding?

What are the constraints to effective exclusive breast feeding practice among mothers in Holy Rosary Hospital Emekuku?

Do mothers in Holy Rosary, Owerri North Local Government Area, Imo State practice exclusive breast feeding?

How are the Nursing mothers affected as a resulted of not being able to practice exclusive breastfeeding accurately?

1.5   SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

It will help to promote the general health and growth of the infant

It will positively improve the practice of exclusive breast feeding by generality of Nursing mothers.

It will help researchers to gain more insight into exclusive breast feeding

It serve as a base data for other individual who might be interested in carrying out a research on exclusive breast feeding practices.

1.6 SCOPE OF STUDY

This study was delimited to mothers who are breast feeding their babies and attend antenatal clinic at Holy Rosary Hospital Emekuku, Owerri North Local Governmnet Area, Imo State. Data collection will be limited to facts gotten from the research instruments to administered on the study populations.

1.7 DEFINITIONS OF TERMS

Breast feeding: Is the act of feeding the baby with breast milk

Exclusive Breast Feeding: It the feeding of baby only on breast milk without water from birth to 6 months of age.

Knowledge: An idea about something

Practice: Act of doing something

Nursing Mothers: Women who are breastfeeding babies.

Pages:  43

Category: Project

Format:  Word & PDF        

Chapters: 1-5                                 

Material contains Table of Content, Abstract and References.