International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) |Volume VI, Issue IX, September 2022|ISSN 2454-6186

Exclusive Breastfeeding and Its Associated Factors Among Working Mothers Presenting at The Sisters of The Nativity Hospital Jikwoyi, Urban –City, Abuja, Nigeria

Tarbo Nguveren Irene (S.O.N), Felix Blair Odhiambo*, Vincent Omwenga, Daniel Kwalimwa, Salima Ruth Kihamba, Malusha James and Ogutu Gideon
The Catholic University of Eastern Africa, Department of Community Health and Development. P.O. Box 62157-00200. Nairobi, Kenya
*Corresponding Author

Abstract: Breast milk is the most nutritious food for infants and exclusive breastfeeding is the most sufficient type of infant feeding in the first six months of life. The purpose of this study was to assess the rate of exclusive breastfeeding among working mothers in the Sisters of the Nativity Hospital Jikwoyi, Urban –City, Abuja, Nigeria. Aim of the study was to establish the exclusive breastfeeding practices among working mothers attending the Hospital. The study utilized the cross-sectional descriptive study that made use of both the qualitative and quantitative data collection methods. The target population was 316 working women. Simple random sampling was used to sample 174 working women. Data was collected using questionnaires. The Spearman Brown Co-efficient was used to ascertain reliability. Findings established that; initiating breastfeeding within 2 hours after delivery, weaning at six months of age, exclusively breastfeeding up to 6 months and continuing breastfeeding until 2 years of age were the common exclusive breastfeeding practices among the working mothers. Factors hindering successful exclusive breastfeeding among working mothers and its promoters were determined from the findings and recommendations were duly made. The study concluded that working breastfeeding women who attend the target hospital adhere to breastfeeding practices as recommended by WHO, with the rate of 53(48.2%) which is higher than 8% out of 29% working class mothers in previous studies.

Key Words: Exclusive Breastfeeding. Working mothers. Breast milk. Factors. Promoters. Sisters of the Nativity Hospital, Jikwoyi Urban-City, Abuja, Nigeria

I. INTRODUCTION

Exclusive breastfeeding is the most sufficient type of infant feeding within the first six months of a child’s life” (WHO, 2019). Physiologically, breastfeeding is a natural way of feeding infants and children within the first six months according to the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendation, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and the Nigeria National Policy on Infant and Young Child Feeding respectively (Agho, et al., 2019).