Knowledge, attitude and practice of breast feeding among breastfeeding mothers attending Kiryandongo District Hospital
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Date
2018-03
Authors
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Publisher
Kampala International University, Faculty of Clinical Medicine and Dentistry
Abstract
Background: Breastfeeding is a key tool for nourishing a baby, preventing childhood illnesses
like obesity, and hypertension later on in life. In addition, it reduces the cost to the family and the
entire country. Uganda to some extent faces a great deal of challenges, particularly in the health
sector. Appropriate practices that support exclusive breastfeeding in the 1st six months will cause
a major impact on reduction of childhood morbidity and mortality in the young and continued
feeding up to 2 years gives a good health benefit for both mothers and children.
Objective: To assess the knowledge, attitude and practices of exclusive breastfeeding in mothers
with infants between 1day to 2 years of age attending the immunization and the pediatric inpatient in
Kiryandongo Hospital and to identify factors that affect exclusive breastfeeding.
Method: A cross-section descriptive survey design was used, 187 respondents were selected
randomly. The data were collected using a questionnaire and the data was analyzed using
descriptive statistics of frequency and percentages.
Result: The result of this study showed that71.2 % knew the correct definition and duration of
exclusive breastfeeding, 59.7% exclusively breastfeeds for the first six (6) months of life, 100%
gave colostrum to their babies because they believed it provides nutrition and protection to their
babies,87% breastfed on demand. The result also showed that there is a positive attitude of
mothers toward exclusive breastfeeding as 86.6% of them agreed that breast milk alone is
sufficient to the baby during the first six (6) months of life as well as believed that EBF has
benefits to both the infants and the mother. 51% of respondents weaned their babies between 15-
18 months and 41% weaned between 19 months to2 years.
Conclusion: It was concluded that there was a high level of knowledge on breastfeeding among
the respondents, more than half of the respondents practiced exclusive breastfeeding as
recommended and relatively all the respondents had positive attitude toward exclusive
breastfeeding.
Recommendation: Exclusive breastfeeding counseling during antenatal clinic should be more
elaborative with emphasis on its advantages both to the baby and the mother. Women should be
taught on how to breastfeed and to wean at about 2 years if possible
Description
A research dissertation submitted to the faculty of clinical medicine and dentistry in partial fulfillment of the award of A Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery of Kampala International University March 2018
Keywords
Breast feeding, Breastfeeding mothers, Kiryandongo District, Uganda