FACTORS THAT HINDER NURSING MOTHERS FROM PRACTISING EXCLUSIVE BREASTFEEDING IN PRAMPRAM POLYCLINIC

Abstract

Human milk provides virtually all the nutrients a baby needs to be healthy, and it also contains many substances that benefits a baby’s immune system, including antibodies, immune factors, enzymes, and white blood cells. These substances protect your baby against a wide variety of diseases and infections not only while he is breastfeeding but in some cases long after he has weaned. Formula cannot offer this protection (American Academy of Paediatrics 2016). The purpose of the study was to assess the factors that hinder nursing mothers from practicing exclusive breastfeeding in Prampram Polyclinic. The study also explored the initiatives put in place to encourage exclusive breastfeeding in the community. A cross sectional survey design was used in this research, where 100 respondents were randomly selected in the study area. The study revealed that the majority of the respondents have heard of exclusive breastfeeding. It was also identified that most of the respondents could not practice it due to the nature of their work. Furthermore the findings in the study revealed that, 40.0% of the respondents were of the view that exclusive breastfeeding helped their baby's immune system strengthened by preventing life-threatening illnesses like pneumonia, diarrhea, ear infection, cough and cold among other infection. Finally, on the issue of ways to improve exclusive breastfeeding and its practices, the researchers recommend that health education and promotion should be carried out to help educate the general public on the benefits of exclusive breastfeeding