INFLUENCE OF INFORMATION SOURCES ON KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICE OF EXCLUSIVE BREASTFEEDING AMONG NURSING MOTHERS

INFLUENCE OF INFORMATION SOURCES ON KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICE OF EXCLUSIVE BREASTFEEDING AMONG NURSING MOTHERS

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the Study 

Breastfeeding is not as strictly enforced for infants in many African homes, particularly in Nigeria. According to a news source, there are numerous reasons why moms choose not to exclusively breastfeed their infants. Some of these reasons include myths about the loss of sexual appeal, sagging breasts, and the risk of HIV infection.

Another reason is the possibility of having twins.(Sina, 2016; Business Hallmark Newspaper, 2015).Some other factors that can discourage moms from nursing their babies solely include the fact that most nursing mothers don’t stick with it for the whole six months, and the impact of loved ones, such as elderly grandparents, on a mother’s decision to breastfeed exclusively.

This is due to the fact that traditional practices are typically upheld, such as not wasting colostrum, providing infants with water, animal milk, pap, infant formula, honey, herbal remedies, and purportedly medicinal quoranic inscriptions. In the absence of adequate management, these practices can cause infant malnutrition and, in extreme cases, death.

A high infant mortality rate is attributable, in large part, to mothers who do not breastfeed their children as recommended by the World Health Organisation (2003).

While defining nursing as a critical strategy in enhancing child survival in this world, Veneman (2008) collaborated on this during the celebration of world breastfeeding week in Abuja.

According to her, exclusively nursing for the first six months of a baby’s life can prevent the deaths of up to thirteen percent of children in poor nations under the age of five. This suggests that a baby’s health is heavily dependent on breastfeeding.

From the perspective of assessing the health status, the Nigeria demographic health survey (2008) found that, with over ten million stunted children, Nigeria has the highest number of stunted children on the continent and ranks third globally. Stunting is the primary symptom of malnutrition, according to Alexandra (2016).

In Niger state, stunting is common. In addition, he mentioned that 34% of stunted children, 11% of underweight children, and 18% of wasted children in children younger than five years old reside in Niger state.

This indicates that malnutrition is a major problem in Niger state among children younger than five years old. Due to the fact that breast milk provides all the necessary nutrients, malnutrition sets in when a baby is not completely breastfed, this could be because their mothers did not breastfeed them exclusively.

An article published in 2008 by the Summary of Child Survival Partnership included Nigeria among the six nations responsible for half of the world’s child fatalities, with one million children under the age of five losing their lives annually.

According to an article published in 2011 by the Federal Ministry of Health in Nigeria titled “Saving Newborn Lives in Nigeria,” malnutrition is responsible for more than a third of those fatalities.

Babies who aren’t getting enough nutrition from their mothers’ inadequate breastfeeding practices are at high risk of mortality. The under-5 mortality rate in Niger state is 123 per 1000 live births, which could be explained by this (Alexandra, 2016).

Consistent with the findings of Isaiah (2015), who found that malnutrition accounts for more than half of the under-5 mortality rate among women and children in northern Nigeria, we find that malnutrition is a cause of child mortality.

A study conducted by the United Nations Children’s Fund found that exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of a child’s life could avoid 13% of the 10 million child deaths in 42 countries, which constitute 90% of the world’s child fatalities (UNICEF, 2005). The government should make a concerted effort to encourage breastfeeding as a means to lower infant death rates.

The government and WHO have made efforts to decrease infant malnutrition. Relatedly, this is the week that the globe celebrates nursing. More than 120 countries celebrate the week annually from August 1st to the 7th. In 1992, the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) was the first to commemorate it.

According to World Breastfeeding Week (2010), it came into being on February 14, 1991. An article in Nursing World (2016) states that Nigeria is among the countries that observe World Breastfeeding Week.

During this time, the focus is on promoting exclusive breastfeeding and raising awareness about the risks of formula feeding. Such programs educate many moms about the benefits of exclusive breastfeeding.

During this nursing campaign, leaflets, stickers, and handbills on breastfeeding are distributed, according to Brikins (2016). That moms have received information about exclusive breastfeeding is evident from this.

The Federal Ministry of Health in Nigeria (2011) defines “exclusive breastfeeding” as the practice of providing infants just breast milk, rather than water, herbal concoctions, or any other type of drink or food.

The exception to this rule is the administration of recommended drops, such as those containing vitamins, minerals, or medications. In addition, when a baby or newborn is exclusively breastfed, they only consume breast milk.

Thus, according to WHO (2016), while breastfeeding exclusively, no additional food should be given to the baby. When a baby is exclusively breastfed, they are encouraged to eat nothing but breast milk.

According to Veneman (2008), the term “exclusive breastfeeding” is used to describe a feeding regimen in which the baby is given just breast milk and no other solid or liquid foods or medications.

Events like World Breastfeeding Week help spread the word about how important it is to nurse exclusively. According to UNICEF (2015), breastfeeding is beneficial for a child’s nutrition.

As a part of its efforts to honour “breastfeeding week,” the United Nations Children’s Fund in Nigeria welcomed media to Kano. Child malnutrition is a serious problem in Nigeria, and the report asked the media for help raising awareness about the issue.

In her 2015 statement, UNICEF Chief of Communication Porter emphasised the need for increased media coverage of the topic of child nutrition in Nigeria. The media have been successful in the past, as pointed out by Porter.

The claims were made in light of several media campaigns covering a wide range of subjects, including breastfeeding and childcare, breastfeeding among women, the importance of exclusive breastfeeding, and the health of newborns in Nigeria.

The significance of exclusive breastfeeding has been conveyed to women through several forms of media and information, including electronic, print, and vocal formats.