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Factors Hindering Breastfeeding Practices Among Mothers in Rural Tanzania

Factors Hindering Breastfeeding Practices Among Mothers in Rural Tanzania Exclusive breastfeeding practices for infants and young children worldwide are not optimal. More than seven million children under the age of 5 die each year in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia due to poor breastfeeding practices (Quinn et al, 2004). This study determines factors hindering exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) practice among mothers of infants aged 0–6 months attending the Reproductive and Child Health (RCH) clinic at Peramiho Mission Hospital, Ruvuma division, Songea Rural district in Tanzania. A descriptive cross-sectional study employed quantitative design through the use of structured questionnaires. A total of 92 respondents were interviewed. The respondents were mothers of infants aged 0–6 months. Convenient non-random sampling was used, which means all mothers with infants in the age group who were present at the time of data collection were included. Data was analysed using the Epi–Info 6 version, statistical package. It was discovered that around one-third of respondents were peasants who need to work hard and engage in various economic and domestic activities soon after delivery, thus lacking enough time for cooking and caring for their young ones. Furthermore this study revealed that educational level had a bearing on knowledge about exclusive breastfeeding as the majority (57%) of respondents with primary education had inadequate knowledge about exclusive breastfeeding—although this was not statistically significant. Also, 22% of the respondents reported having exclusively breastfed their infants for six months. However, findings from the current study show that a significant number of respondents had some cultural beliefs which hinder exclusive breastfeeding. Exclusive breastfeeding is still rarely practised in the area of study as more than half of infants are supplemented early and the majority of mothers have inadequate knowledge on exclusive breastfeeding. To promote breastfeeding, education and campaigning on the importance of continued breastfeeding should be provided to the general public, particularly to health workers in maternity units. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png African Journal of Midwifery and Women's Health Mark Allen Group

Factors Hindering Breastfeeding Practices Among Mothers in Rural Tanzania

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Publisher
Mark Allen Group
Copyright
Copyright © 2013 MA Healthcare Limited
ISSN
1759-7374
eISSN
2052-4293
DOI
10.12968/ajmw.2013.7.2.91
Publisher site
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Abstract

Exclusive breastfeeding practices for infants and young children worldwide are not optimal. More than seven million children under the age of 5 die each year in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia due to poor breastfeeding practices (Quinn et al, 2004). This study determines factors hindering exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) practice among mothers of infants aged 0–6 months attending the Reproductive and Child Health (RCH) clinic at Peramiho Mission Hospital, Ruvuma division, Songea Rural district in Tanzania. A descriptive cross-sectional study employed quantitative design through the use of structured questionnaires. A total of 92 respondents were interviewed. The respondents were mothers of infants aged 0–6 months. Convenient non-random sampling was used, which means all mothers with infants in the age group who were present at the time of data collection were included. Data was analysed using the Epi–Info 6 version, statistical package. It was discovered that around one-third of respondents were peasants who need to work hard and engage in various economic and domestic activities soon after delivery, thus lacking enough time for cooking and caring for their young ones. Furthermore this study revealed that educational level had a bearing on knowledge about exclusive breastfeeding as the majority (57%) of respondents with primary education had inadequate knowledge about exclusive breastfeeding—although this was not statistically significant. Also, 22% of the respondents reported having exclusively breastfed their infants for six months. However, findings from the current study show that a significant number of respondents had some cultural beliefs which hinder exclusive breastfeeding. Exclusive breastfeeding is still rarely practised in the area of study as more than half of infants are supplemented early and the majority of mothers have inadequate knowledge on exclusive breastfeeding. To promote breastfeeding, education and campaigning on the importance of continued breastfeeding should be provided to the general public, particularly to health workers in maternity units.

Journal

African Journal of Midwifery and Women's Health – Mark Allen Group

Published: Apr 1, 2013

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