A comparative study of exclusive breastfeeding between mothers of formal and informal sector workers in Ede north local government area, Osun State Nigeria
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20232353Keywords:
Exclusive breastfeeding, Formal and informal sector worker, Knowledge, PracticesAbstract
Background: Exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) is helpful in reducing infant morbidity and mortality throughout the first six months of life. However, despite aggressive marketing, just 13-36% of Nigeria infants under 6 months old are exclusively breastfed. Hence, this study was aimed to assess the knowledge, practice and factors affecting exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) among informal and formal sector workers in Ede north local government, Osun State.
Methods: A descriptive study was conducted with 285 respondents from formal and informal sector workers with child(ren) aged 0-24 months.
Results: Results showed a significant difference in knowledge and practice of exclusive breastfeeding between formal and informal sector workers. Factors affecting exclusive breastfeeding include lactation, job hindrances, and crèche availability. The practice of EBF was low among mothers in the formal sector, and the factors impacting its practice reported in this study may have substantial implications for breastfeeding intervention programs.
Conclusions: As a result, attempts to promote EBF should target specific populations of informal sector women and areas where it is underutilized. Moreover, mothers must be supported. Furthermore, mothers should be encouraged to attend antenatal care where they will learn about the benefits of exclusive nursing to children under the age of six months, allowing them to make informed decisions on exclusive breastfeeding. The Nigerian government should ensure that the employment act’s maternity leave benefits are implemented in the informal sector, allowing women to practice EBF.
References
Jasny E, Amor H, Baali A. Mothers’ knowledge and intentions of breastfeeding in Marrakech, Morocco. Arch Pediatr. 2019;26(5):285-9.
Tambe BA, Mimboe C, Nchung JA, Bakwo CB, Nyobe EC, Pauline N, et al. The determinants of exclusive breastfeeding in Cameroon, Sub-Saharan Africa. Trends Gen Pract. 2018;1(3):2-6.
Gebremedhin T, Geberu DM, Atnafu A. Less than one-fifth of the mothers practised exclusive breastfeeding in the emerging regions of Ethiopia: a multilevel analysis of the 2016 Ethiopian demographic and health survey. BMC Public Health. 2021;21(1):1-3.
McKinney ES, James SR, Murray SS, Nelson K, Ashwill J. Maternal-child nursing-e-book. 6th edn. Elsevier Health Sciences; 2021.
Nsiah-Asamoah C, Doku DT, Agblorti S. Mothers’ and grandmothers’ misconceptions and socio-cultural factors as barriers to exclusive breastfeeding: a qualitative study involving health Workers in two rural districts of Ghana. PloS One. 2020;15(9):e0239278.
Barker M, Dombrowski SU, Colbourn T, Fall CH, Kriznik NM, Lawrence WT, et al. Intervention strategies to improve nutrition and health behaviours before conception. Lancet. 2018;391(10132):1853-64.
Hangoma P, Aakvik A, Robberstad B. Explaining changes in child health inequality in the run up to the 2015 millennium development goals (MDGs): the case of Zambia. PLoS One. 2017;12(2):e0170995.
Adenike ME. Breastfeeding Practices and Attitudes of Postnatal Mothers in a South-West Nigerian Community. Redeemer’s Univ J Manage Soc Sci. 2021;4(1).
Etowa JB, Kakuru DM, Etowa EB. Being a black mother living with HIV is a “whole story”: implications for intersectionality approach. Women. 2022;2(4):326-38.
Ihudiebube-Splendor CN, Okafor CB, Anarado AN, Jisieike-Onuigbo NN, Chinweuba AU, Nwaneri AC, et al. Exclusive breastfeeding knowledge, intention to practice and predictors among primiparous women in Enugu South-East, Nigeria. J Pregnancy. 2019;2019.
Woldeamanuel BT. Trends and factors associated to early initiation of breastfeeding, exclusive breastfeeding and duration of breastfeeding in Ethiopia: evidence from the Ethiopia demographic and health survey 2016. Int Breastfeed J. 2020;15(1):1-3.
Oduwole TA. Developmental nexus between socio-economic and cultural correlates of exclusive breastfeeding among nursing mothers in Ojo local government area of Lagos State, Nigeria. Adv Soc Sci Res J. 2016;3(6).
McKinnon J. In their shoes: an ontological perspective on empathy in nursing practice. J Clin Nurs. 2018;27(21-22):3882-93.
Cames C, Saher A, Ayassou KA, Cournil A, Meda N, Simondon KB. Acceptability and feasibility of infant‐feeding options: experiences of HIV‐infected mothers in the World Health Organization Kesho Bora mother‐to‐child transmission prevention (PMTCT) trial in Burkina Faso. Matern Child Nutr. 2010;6(3):253-65.
Hvatum I, Glavin K. Mothers’ experience of not breastfeeding in a breastfeeding culture. J Clin Nurs. 2017;26(19-20):3144-55.
Piro SS, Ahmed HM. Impacts of antenatal nursing interventions on mothers’ breastfeeding self-efficacy: an experimental study. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2020;20:1-2.
Akinola A, Karama RS, Rajput M. Awareness of natural breastfeeding milk among mothers and the importance of colostrum within the first hour of birth in India. Int J Community Med Public Health. 2022;9(7):2992.
Mazengia AL, Demissie H. Knowledge and practice of employed mothers towards exclusive breastfeeding and its associated factors in Mecha District, Northwest Ethiopia. J Nutr Metab. 2020;2020:1-9.
Gebeyehu NA, Tegegne KD, Shewangashaw NE, Biset G, Abebaw N, Tilahun L. Knowledge, attitude, practice and determinants of exclusive breastfeeding among women in Ethiopia: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Public Health Pract. 2023:100373.
Ayalew T. Exclusive breastfeeding practice and associated factors among first-time mothers in Bahir Dar city, North West Ethiopia: a community based cross sectional study. Heliyon. 2020;6(9):e04732.
Gift RA, Obindah F. Examining the influence of motivation on organizational productivity in Bayelsa state private hospitals. Open Access J Sci. 2020;4(3):94-108.
