BREASTFEEDING PRACTICES AMONG WOMEN IN THE NANUMBA NORTH DISTRICT

Abstract

Exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) practice is safe and simple intervention in improving child health and growth. The study was conducted to assess breastfeeding practices among women in the Nanumba North District in Northern region of Ghana. This study employed a descriptive cross-sectional study design using a paper based self design questionnaire to collect primary data from 200 respondents. Simple random sampling technique was employed as sample respondents. Findings from the research revealed that, 37% indicated that they initiated breastfeeding within 1 hour immediately after delivery. It was also revealed that, 28% of the respondents had ever practiced exclusive breastfeeding. The findings further revealed that, 89.5% of the study participants agreed with the statement that breastfeeding protects the baby from illnesses. From the results, 83.7% agreed with the statement that unsupportive husbands and other family members affect women practice of exclusive breastfeeding. From the results, 83.7% of the study participants indicated that the parity of a woman influences the practice of EBF, 26.4% of the study participants said the educational status of a woman does not influence the practice of EBF. The findings presented in this study could assist policy formulation in terms of EBF. The researcher concludes that study participants, knowledge on breastfeeding practices was good whilst the practice of EBF was insufficiently observed. The researcher recommends that there is the need for research to identify breastfeeding messages having the greatest impact in influencing mothers to practice exclusive breastfeeding in the study area.