TITLE:
Determinants of Breastfeeding Practices among Working Mothers in Solwezi District of Zambia
AUTHORS:
Twaambo Mwiza, Dorothy Chanda, Emmanuel Musenge
KEYWORDS:
Determinants, Exclusive Breastfeeding, Working Mothers, Practices
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology,
Vol.13 No.3,
March
22,
2023
ABSTRACT: 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.