Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices of Mothers Regarding Exclusive Breastfeeding in Rural Areas of Brobo (Côte d’Ivoire)

Introduction:In C?te d’Ivoire, despite awareness raising among mothers by health authorities and health care providers, the exclusive breastfeeding rate is still low, 23%. This rate seems even lower in rural areas. The objective of the study was to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes and practices of mothers regarding exclusive breastfeeding for the reduction of malnutrition in rural areas. Methods: This was a descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study conducted in Brobo from July to September 2020. It included consenting mothers of infants aged 0 to 24 months. Mothers’ knowledge, attitudes and practice were assessed by an anonymous structured questionnaire with a performance threshold set at 75%. Factors associated with exclusive breastfeeding were investigated by the Chi-square test at the 5% level of significance. Results: The average age of the 183 mothers was 25 years (extremes 13 and 49 years). They were primigravida (33%) and had a low socioeconomic level (84%). The mothers knew the definition of exclusive breastfeeding (33%). They knew that breastfeeding promoted ideal infant growth (64%) and protected against diarrhea and infection (18%). They also knew that breastfeeding reduced the mother’s risk of cancer (16%) and strengthened the mother-infant bond (7%). The mothers interviewed stated that they had put the baby to the breast within the first hour after delivery in 2% and 63% of them gave the baby colostrum. Mothers were confident about breastfeeding (91%) and exclusive breastfeeding until 6 months of age represented 9%. The factor associated with lack of knowledge of exclusive breastfeeding was not attending school (OR 0.26;95%CI 0.14 - 0.48;p < 0.01) and those associated with good practice of exclusive breastfeeding were not attending school (OR 4.94;95%CI 1.09 - 22.21;p = 0.03) and multiparity (OR 0.30;95%CI 0.09 - 0.97;p = 0.04). Conclusion: The mothers interviewed in the rural areas of Brobo have insufficient knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding exclusive breastfeeding. To improve this situation, we recommend capacity building of mothers through awareness raising.

Observations on the Effectiveness of Internet+ Nursing Practice in Promoting Exclusive Breastfeeding

Objective:To analyze the effect of Internet+nursing practice to promote exclusive breastfeeding.Methods:60 new mothers were selected from our hospital between February 2021 and February 2022,randomly divided into two groups,the control group and the observation group.Conventional care was given to the control group and the Internet+care was given to the observation group.The healing of perineal wounds,breastfeeding rate as well as the nursing satisfaction of both groups were compared with each other.Results:The perineal wound healing rate was 100.00%in the observation group and 83.33%in the control group,the healing rate was higher in the observation group(P<0.05).80.00%,with higher nursing satisfaction in the observation group(P<0.05).Conclusion:Internet+nursing guidance during the perinatal care of mothers can improve the success rate of breastfeeding and achieve higher nursing satisfaction.

Determinants of Breastfeeding Practices among Working Mothers in Solwezi District of Zambia

Background: As one of the strategies to reduce infant morbidity and mortality, the World Health Organization recommends early initiation of exclusive breastfeeding and timely introduction of complementary feeding with continued breastfeeding for up to two years or beyond. Although breastfeeding is a natural process, it is influenced by different socio-cultural factors, habits, standards, and behaviours. Rapid industrialization and changes in lifestyle have seen increasing numbers of women in the labour force, and associated poor Exclusive Breastfeeding practices among working mothers. The aim of this study was to identify the determinants of breastfeeding practices among working mothers in Solwezi District of Zambia. Methods: This was a cross-sectional comparative survey comparing determinants of breastfeeding practices among working mothers aged 15 - 49 years in urban and rural areas of Solwezi District. The study was carried out in the Under-five Clinics at Solwezi, Kimasala and Mushitala Urban Clinics, as well as St. Francis, Kapijimpanga and Kisalala Rural Health Centers. Eighty-seven participants were successfully recruited using convenience sampling. A researcher-assisted questionnaire was used to collect data. Data analysis was done using SPSS version 27.0. Descriptive statistical analysis was done using numerical measures such as measures of central tendency and dispersion. The Pearson Chi Square test, correlation and linear regression analysis were performed to test association between the variables at the 0.05 level of significance. Are you assessing exclusive breastfeeding alone or what? Results: The mean age of respondents was 27.44 years (SD = 6.042 years) and the majority of the respondents were married (71.3%, n = 62). Forty-three percent of the respondents were self-employed while the rest were in formal government or private sector employment. Overall, 97.7% of the respondents had heard of exclusive breastfeeding, with health facilities being the most frequent source of information (64.4%). Attitude towards exclusive breastfeeding was generally positive. Fifty-eight percent of respondents exclusively breastfed while the rest were on mixed feeding. Seventy-one percent of respondents reported that their workplaces did not have breastfeeding facilities at work. Only 11.5% of the respondents reported having cultural beliefs restricting breastfeeding. Statistically significant associations were obtained from cross-tabulation analysis between respondent’s occupation and baby feeding type (p 0.001);workload and feeding type (0.024);as well as knowledge of EBF and feeding type (p 0.001). Conclusion: Majority of the respondents demonstrated good knowledge and positive attitude towards exclusive breastfeeding. This study recommends sensitization campaigns in communities to raise awareness about the importance of breastfeeding, and foster behaviour change that promotes breastfeeding.

The Effects of Different Feeding Practices on the Nutritional Status of Infants below 12 Months Old in the Kumba 1 Sub-Division

Appropriate feeding practices are important during infancy for good health, growth and development of infants and children. WHO revised its earlier recommendation of Exclusive Breastfeeding (EBF) of infants from 4 to 6 months of age to EBF until about 6 months of age, with the addition of complementary foods thereafter. This recommendation confirms that breast milk alone is sufficient to meet infants’ nutritional requirements for the first 6 months of life. The main objective of this study was to investigate the effect of various feeding practices on the Nutritional status of infants 0 - 12-month-old in the Kumba 1 Sub-Division. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from December 2019 to August 2020. A total of 341 nursing mothers and their infants 0 - 12 months of age were recruited. Socio-demographic factors and the different feeding habits of the children were assessed using a semi-structured questionnaire. Nutritional status was assessed using anthropometric measurements. The overall proportion of infants who exclusively breastfed for 6 months was 69.2% and those who were mix-fed were 30.8% in the study area. The overall prevalence of malnutrition in the population was 61.0%. Among the malnourished children, 53.1% were underweight, 19.6% were wasted and 10.0% were stunted. Though not significant, the prevalence of wasting (21.0%) and underweight (58.3%) was higher among Mix-Fed (MF) children when compared to their EBF counterparts. Feeding practices affected the nutritional status of the infants. Underweight and wasting were observed among infants on Complementary Feeding (CF), although some exclusively breast-fed infants were stunted. Hence, nursing mothers should try as much as possible to practice EBF as recommended by WHO and can practice CF when the child is above six months.

Oketani massage with jasmine oil improves breast milk production on postpartum days 1-3

Objective:This study aimed to determine the effect of Oketani massage with jasmine oil on improving breast milk production on days 1-3.Materials and Methods:This preexperimental one-group pretest-posttest design was conducted with 44 eligible respondents,selected using an incidental sampling technique.Oketani massage with jasmine oil was conducted once a day for 3 consecutive days.A total of 44 respondents were selected with incidental sampling.Sufficient breast milk production was observed through the frequency of baby urination in 24 h,the frequency of baby defecation in 24 h,the baby’s weight,and the length of time the baby slept or remained calm after breastfeeding.Results:Results showed that Oketani massage using jasmine oil impacted on increasing breast milk production in postpartum on days 1-3(Z=6.633,P=0.000).The baby’s weight in 3 days was increased after intervention compared with intervention before(2858.25±180.62 g vs.2881.66±180.96 g,t=55.33,P=0.000),the baby’s urination frequency was increased after intervention(4.55±0.50 vs.7.20±0.70,t=17.87,P=0.000),the breastfeeding frequency has decreased(10.27±1.42 vs.8.82±0.82,t=6.94,P=0.000),and the time of baby’s sleeping or calming state has increased(5.14±6.46 h vs.8.48±10.24 h,t=2.11,P=0.041).Conclusion:Oketani massage combined with jasmine oil has been shown to be effective on improving breast milk production on days 1-3.

Hemoglobin Values in the First Six Months of Life in Exclusively Breastfed Children

Objective: The inexistence of publications on hemoglobin values in the first six months of life gave us the objective of describing these values, month by month in healthy, iron sufficient exclusively breastfed infants. Methods: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study in 306 infants stratified according to age from one to six months, full-term births, weighing ≥2500 g, without intercurrences at birth, serum ferritin levels ≥10 ng/mL, followed by the public health service encouraging and supporting exclusive breastfeeding. An automated counter was used for measuring hemoglobin, and serum ferritin was determined using immunoenzymatic method. Student’s t-test was used to analyze differences between means, and Mann-Whitney test when distribution was non-normal. Level of statistical significance was p 0.05. Results: The hemoglobin values, according to gender, did not differ statistically in the different months;the results are presented without sample division according to gender. Hemoglobin means and standard deviations in g/dL were: 11.7(±1.6), 10.7(±1.5), 10.8(±1.3), 11.6(±1.5), 11.7(±1.7), and 11.8(±1.6), from the first to sixth month respectively. Conclusion: The hemoglobin values obtained in all the first six months of life, based on a healthy, exclusively breastfed infant population, may contribute to the reassessment of reference levels for the diagnosis of anemia in the studied age range.

High Prevalence of Suboptimal Child-Feeding Practices and Child Morbidity among Families from Low Socio-Economic Urban Areas in Harare

Introduction:Optimal breastfeeding and complementary feeding have been proven to reduce malnutrition.Declining socio-economic environment is associated with poor feeding practices,high morbidity,and risk of malnutrition among children from urban poor families.Objective:The aim of this cross-sectional study was to assess child-feeding practices and morbidity prevalence among Harare urban-families living in low socio-economic areas.Methods:A health-facility based cross-sectional study was conducted in five clinics of Harare serving low socio-economic communities between July and August 2014.A structured interviewer-administered questionnaire assessing child-feeding practices was used to interview primary caregivers.Prevalence of diarrhea,influenza,malaria,measles,fever,and cough was assessed.Data were analysed using SPSS v21.Results:A total of 218 mother-child pairs attending growth monitoring were enrolled in the study:Seventy-five percent of the children were below two years;early introduction of solid foods(before six months)was observed in 81.4%of the children.Forty-nine percent of young children were fed at least four meals per day and 74%had been weaned onto family meals;Twenty-four percent of the children had diarrhea,59%influenza,1%malaria,1%measles,23%fever and 53%cough in the month preceding the survey.Conclusion:There is a high prevalence of suboptimal feeding practices and morbidity in low socio-economic urban communities of Harare.There is need to design child-feeding interventions for the urban community targeting all family members involved in decision-making.