CHALLENGES OF EXCLUSIVE BREAST FEEDING AMONG WORKING CLASS WOMEN IN OWERRI MUNICIPAL.

CHALLENGES OF EXCLUSIVE BREAST FEEDING AMONG WORKING CLASS WOMEN IN OWERRI MUNICIPAL.

ABSTRACT

The study was carried out on one hundred working class mothers in owerri municipal to assess the practice and challenges of exclusive breastfeeding.

Questionnaires were used to elicit information relating to the study. The data collected were analyzed using the statistical package for social sciences (SPSS),version seventeen. It was found that 92% of the women were aware of exclusive breastfeeding, while 5% were ignorant. 46% the women practiced exclusive breastfeeding while 54% of them practiced mixed feeding. Among those that did not practice exclusive breastfeeding 19% could not because of the nature of their job, 6% did not for fear of weight gain, 6% did not because of the misconception that exclusively breastfed babies hardly accept other foods after six months while 1% did not for economic reasons, pressure from relatives and the belief that the breast milk was insufficient for the baby, respectively. It is recommended that working class mothers should be taught the ideal duration of exclusive breastfeeding and its benefits. A combination of knowledge of proper breast milk extraction, preservation and the establishment of a standard crèche in all places of work is recommended.    

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Certification                                                                                      i

Dedication                                                                               ii

Acknowledgement                                                                    iii

Abstract                                                                                   iv

Table of contents                                                                     v

CHAPTER ONE

Introduction                                                                            1

1. Background of study                                                      1-5
2. Statement of problem                                                     5-6
3. Objective of study                                                           6
4. Significance of study                                                      6-7
5. Scope of the study                                                          7-8
6. Limitation of study                                                         8
7. Definition of terms                                                         8-10

CHAPTER TWO

Literature review                                                                      11

1. Exclusive breast feeding                                                 11-13
2. Exclusive breast feeding practices                                  13-16
3. Benefits of breast feeding: best for the baby                   16-19
4. Maternal benefits: best for the mother                           20-22
5. Benefits of breast feeding to the community                  23-24

and nation

1. Promotion of exclusive breast feeding                             24-26
2. Why exclusive breast feeding should be promoted         26-27
3. Challenges/problems of exclusive breast feeding           27-30
4. Knowledge/attitude and the practice of exclusive          30-31

breast feeding

1. Nutritional value of breast milk                                      31-33
2. Advantages of exclusive breast feeding over infant         34-35

formula

1. Dangers of bottle feeding.                                               35-37

CHAPTER THREE

Research methodology                                                             38

1. Materials and methods                                                   38
2. Sampling techniques                                                     39
3. Sample size/population                                                 39
4. Data collection                                                               39
5. Data analysis                                                                 39

CHAPTER FOUR

1. Results and discussion                                                  40-41
2. Economic status of husbands                                        42
3. Practice of breastfeeding                                                 43-44
4. Level of awareness on exclusive breast feeding and        45-48

practice of exclusive breast feeding

1. Mothers attitude towards exclusive breastfeeding          48-53
2. Benefits and success of exclusive breast feeding            54-56
3. Challenges/problems facing exclusive breast                 56-57

feeding practices

1. Association between mothers social economic                57-60

status and practice of exclusive breastfeeding

CHAPTER FIVE

Discussions                                                                             61-63

Conclusion                                                                              64

Recommendation

CHALLENGES OF EXCLUSIVE BREAST FEEDING AMONG WORKING CLASS WOMEN IN OWERRI MUNICIPAL.