Abstract:
Exclusive Breastfeeding (EB), the feeding of infants with breastmilk only in the first
six months of life, is a determinant of nutritional status of children and an
enhancement of nursing mothers’ health. Previous studies in communication of
breastfeeding messages have focused on their optimisation with interest in nursing
mothers’ practice. However, there is a dearth of literature on the connection between
sources of nursing mothers’ information on EB and practice. This study was, therefore,
designed to examine the sources of EB information available to Nursing Mothers
(NMs) in Ogun State, with a view to establishing the influence of these sources on
NMs’ knowledge of, attitude to and practice of EB.
Theory of Planned Behaviour and the Elaboration Likelihood Model were used as the
framework, while the mixed methods design was adopted. Six Local Government
Areas (LGA): Ado Odo/Ota, Yewa North, Abeokuta South, Odeda, Sagamu and
Odogbolu (two LGAs per Senatorial District SD), were purposively selected for
having the highest and lowest numbers of health facilities in each SD. Six hundred
NMs, 100 per LGA were selected from five health facilities in each local government.
Two focus group discussions were conducted with 10 NMs each in two Primary
Health Centres. Key informant interview was also conducted with the Chief Nutrition
Officer of the State Primary Health Care Board (SPHCB). Quantitative data were
analysed using descriptive statistics, while qualitative data were subjected to constant
comparative analysis.
Information sources available to NMs include health workers (doctors, nurses, and
community health extension workers CHEW), mass media (radio and television),
advocacy groups, interactions with friends, parents/parents-in-law and community
leaders. Most NMs derived their EB information from health workers (85.5%). Other
NMs derived EB information from parents/parents-in-law (78.5%), radio (64.8%),
television (56.7%), interactions with friends (50.7%) and advocacy groups (30.8%).
Knowledge of EB was above average among NMs as 53.8% of NMs believed all they
needed to give their infants in the first six months were breastmilk and prescribed
drugs. Attitude towards EB was positive as 86.4% of NMs believed that in spite of
their ability to afford baby formula, they still preferred EB because it was good for
their babies’ health. Practice of EB among NMs was, however, low as NMs’
continuation of EB dropped from 50.9% after two months to 45.3% after three months.
The Nutrition Officer of the SPHCB confirmed that EB practice in the State was at
30.6% which was above the national average of 17% due to the quality of information
being provided. Sources of information had limited influence on the practice of EB
among NMs because they admitted that their work schedule determined the extent of
EB practice.
Sources of information on exclusive breastfeeding among nursing mothers in Ogun
State have strong influence on knowledge and attitude but limited influence on actual
practice.
